Latest news with #FaniaRecords
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Eddie Palmieri, a champion of Latin jazz, dies at 88
Eddie Palmieri, the Grammy-winning Nuyorican pianist, bandleader and composer who helped innovate Afro-Caribbean music in the States and transform the New York salsa scene, died on Wednesday. He was 88. According to a post on his official Instagram, Palmieri passed away in his Hackensack, N.J., home. The New York Times confirmed via his youngest daughter, Gabriela Palmieri, that his death came after 'an extended illness.' Multiple celebrities chimed in to pay their respects, including Spike Lee, Ramon Rodriguez and representatives from Fania Records, the pioneering New York salsa label, also released a statement. '[On Wednesday], Fania Records mourns the loss of the legendary Eddie Palmieri, one of the most innovative and unique artists in music history,' the statement said. Palmieri briefly recorded music with the label but also released music under Tico, Alegre, Concord Picante, RMM and Coco Records. Others took to social media to mourn the loss, including David Sanchez, a Grammy-winning jazz tenor saxophonist from Puerto Rico, who uploaded a slideshow of photographs of the two. Sanchez recounted the time when his soprano saxophone was stolen — and Palmieri helped him pay for a new one. 'Your being and your music will continue to live on in the hearts of many,' Sanchez wrote in the Instagram caption. Palmieri's contemporary Chuchito Valdes, a Grammy-winning Cuban pianist and bandleader, also chimed in with an Instagram post lamenting the loss: 'A sad day for music. One of the greatest of all time is gone, an innovator. The man who revolutionized salsa and Latin jazz. My great friend.' Born on Dec. 15, 1936, in East Harlem to Puerto Rican parents from Ponce, Palmieri was the younger brother of Charlie Palmieri, the late piano legend known as the 'Giant of the Keyboards.' The family later moved to the South Bronx, where they opened up a luncheonette called 'Mambo': a name chosen by young Eddie, who was enthralled by the Cuban dance hall rhythms. He often controlled the jukebox with blissful Latin jazz tunes by Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez and Machito. Palmieri was deeply influenced and inspired by his older brother, who was nine years his senior and introduced him to prominent big-band acts of the 1940s, like Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller and Woody Herman, all of whom seemed to dissolve by the end of World War II. Though Palmieri had an itch to lean into the timbales like Tito Puente, he would eventually follow in his brother's footsteps and take piano lessons from Margaret Bonds, one of the most prominent African American concert pianists at the time. Although he briefly joined his uncle's orchestra, Chino y sus Almas Tropicales, as a timbal player, Palmieri rose to fame as a pianist, playing with various bands including the Eddie Forrester Orchestra, Johnny Segui and His Orchestra, and eventually Tito Rodriguez and His Orchestra, which was a main act at the Palladium Ballroom between 1958 to 1960. 'In the audience, you could have maybe a Marlon Brando, Kim Novak, all the Hollywood starlets because it was the height of the mambo,' said Palmieri in a 2013 interview with Jo Reed. 'On Saturday, you had the blue-collar, mostly Puerto Rican. And then Sunday was black, Afro-American. It was intermingled or different nationalities that had nothing to do whether you were green, purple, white, we came to dance.' But in 1961, Palmieri went on to start his own band, La Perfecta, an ironic title given its not-so-perfect setup. It formed as an eight-piece Cuban conjunto, which ditched the traditional jazzy saxophone. There were timbales, congas, bongos, bass, piano and vocals — but with a twist of its own kind: the inclusion of two trombones, played by Barry Rogers and Jose Rodriguez, instead of the costly four-set trumpets. Palmieri also added a whistling flute, played by George Castro, for a charanga edge (in the place of a traditional violin). 'La Perfecta changed everything in the history of our genre, in my opinion. Certainly in New York,' said Palmieri. 'And then influenced the world, because after that all the pawn shops got rid of their trombones.' His group helped usher in the iconic salsa genre with their first album, 'Eddie Palmieri and His Conjunto 'La Perfecta,'' dubbing him the nickname 'Madman of salsa.' However, he was not too fond of the emerging term, which seemed to cram different styles like mambo, charanga, rumba, guaracha and danzón into one single category. 'Afro-Cuban is where we get the music,' explained Palmieri in a 2012 interview with the Smithsonian Oral History Project. 'The influence of the Puerto Rican is the one [that] upheld the rhythmical patterns and the genre of Cuba. So then that becomes Afro-Caribbean.' La Perfecta went on to release its most famed album, 'Azúcar Pa' Ti' in 1965. It included the song 'Azúcar,' an eight-minute track that was later added to the National Recording Registry in 2009. In 1976, Palmieri became the first to win a Grammy for the inaugural category of best Latin recording, for his album 'Sun of Latin Music.' He holds a total of eight Grammy awards. In 2013, the National Endowment for the Arts honored him as a Jazz Master and the Latin Grammys granted him a Lifetime Achievement Award. But Eddie Palmieri's impact spanned beyond his own accomplishments. He was a mentor, a teacher and an advocate for Latin music and culture, which includes advocating twice for the inclusion of the Latin jazz album category in the Grammys — first in 1995, then again in 2012 after its removal. Palmieri was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Iraida Palmieri, who passed away in 2014 — and who he often referred to as 'Mi Luz Mayor.' He is survived by his four daughters, Renee, Eydie, Ileana and Gabriela; his son, Edward Palmieri II; and four grandchildren.
Japan Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Eddie Palmieri, pioneering Latin jazz musician and Grammy winner, dies at 88
By SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS Eddie Palmieri, the avant-garde musician who was one of the most innovative artists of rumba and Latin jazz, has died. He was 88. Fania Records announced Palmieri's death Wednesday evening. Palmieri's daughter Gabriela told The New York Times that her father died earlier that day at his home in New Jersey after 'an extended illness.' The pianist, composer and bandleader was the first Latino to win a Grammy Award and would win seven more over a career that spanned nearly 40 albums. Palmieri was born in New York's Spanish Harlem on December 15, 1936, at a time when music was seen as a way out of the ghetto. He began studying the piano at an early age, like his famous brother Charlie Palmieri, but at age 13, he began playing timbales in his uncle's orchestra, overcome with a desire for the drums. He eventually abandoned the instrument and went back to the playing piano. 'I'm a frustrated percussionist, so I take it out on the piano,' the musician once said in his website biography. His first Grammy win came in 1975 for the album 'The Sun of Latin Music,' and he kept releasing music into his 80s, performing through the coronavirus pandemic via livestreams. In a 2011 interview with The Associated Press, when asked if he had anything important left to do, he responded with his usual humility and good humor: 'Learning to play the piano well. ... Being a piano player is one thing. Being a pianist is another.' Palmieri dabbled in tropical music as a pianist during the 1950s with the Eddie Forrester Orchestra. He later joined Johnny Seguí's band and Tito Rodríguez's before forming his own band in 1961, La Perfecta, alongside trombonist Barry Rogers and singer Ismael Quintana. La Perfecta was the first to feature a trombone section instead of trumpets, something rarely seen in Latin music. With its unique sound, the band quickly joined the ranks of Machito, Tito Rodríguez, and other Latin orchestras of the time. Palmieri produced several albums on the Alegre and Tico Records labels, including the 1971 classic 'Vámonos pa'l monte,' with his brother Charlie as guest organist. Charlie Palmieri died in 1988. Eddie's unconventional approach would surprise critics and fans again that year with the release of 'Harlem River Drive,' in which he fused Black and Latin styles to produce a sound that encompassed elements of salsa, funk, soul, and jazz. Later, in 1974, he recorded 'The Sun of Latin Music' with a young Lalo Rodríguez. The album became the first Latin production to win a Grammy. In 1975, he recorded the album 'Eddie Palmieri & Friends in Concert, Live at the University of Puerto Rico,' considered by many fans to be a salsa gem. In the 1980s, he won two more Grammy Awards, for the albums 'Palo pa' rumba' (1984) and 'Solito' (1985). In 1987, he recorded salsa singer Tony Vega on the album 'La verdad,' and in 1992, he introduced the vocalist La India to the salsa world with the production 'Llegó La India vía Eddie Palmieri.' In 1998, he released 'El rumbero del piano,' in which he once again explored the aggressive salsa that had always characterized him. Palmieri released the album 'Masterpiece' in 2000, which teamed him with Tito Puente, who died that year. It was a hit with critics and won two Grammy Awards. The album was also chosen as the most outstanding production of the year by the National Foundation for Popular Culture of Puerto Rico. During his long career, he participated in concerts and recordings with the Fania All-Stars and Tico All-Stars, standing out as a composer, arranger, producer, and orchestra director. In 1988, the Smithsonian Institute recorded two of Palmieri's concerts for the catalog of the National Museum of American History in Washington. Yale University in 2002 awarded him the Chubb Fellowship Award, an award usually reserved for international heads of state, in recognition of his work in building communities through music. In 2005, he made his debut on National Public Radio as the host of the program 'Caliente,' which was carried by more than 160 radio stations nationwide. He worked with renowned musicians such as timbalero Nicky Marrero, bassist Israel 'Cachao' López, trumpeter Alfredo 'Chocolate' Armenteros, trombonist Lewis Khan, and Puerto Rican bassist Bobby Valentín. In 2010, Palmieri said he felt a bit lonely musically due to the deaths of many of the rumberos with whom he enjoyed playing. As a musical ambassador, he brought salsa and Latin jazz to places as far afield as North Africa, Australia, Asia and Europe, among others. Former Associated Press Writer Sigal Ratner-Arias is the primary author of this obituary. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Latin music trailblazer who won EIGHT Grammys dies at 88
Eddie Palmieri, who revolutionized Latin music and played a major role in the salsa explosion in New York City, passed away Wednesday at the age of 88, according to the artist's official social media account. The 'legendary pianist, composer, bandleader, and one of the most influential figures in Latin music history, passed away in his New Jersey residence on Aug 6,' read a post on Palmieri's Instagram handle, alongside a photo of the artist. Fania Records, the salsa label, mourned the star's death, calling him 'one of the most innovative and unique artists in music history.' 'We will miss him greatly,' it added. Born in Harlem, New York, to Puerto Rican parents, Palmieri was the younger brother of pianist Charlie Palmieri and entered the music scene at a young age. As a teenager, he took piano lessons at Carnegie Hall while also learning to play the timbales. He began performing professionally in bands, including a two-year stint with Puerto Rican musician Tito Rodriguez. Palmieri is recognized for having revolutionized the sound of Latin jazz and salsa, with a career spanning more than seven decades. In 1961, he founded the band 'La Perfecta', which redefined salsa by replacing trumpets with trombones. Four years later, his track 'Azucar Pa Ti' (Sugar For You) became a dancefloor hit -- and decades later, was added to the collection of the US Library of Congress. In 1975, he became the first Latin artist to win a Grammy, for his album 'The Sun of Latin Music,' which won in the newly established Best Latin Recording category. Palmieri was also one of the earliest salsa musicians to adopt a political tone in his compositions. In 1969, he released the album 'Justicia' (Justice), featuring lyrics that tackled inequality, social justice, and discrimination, with vocals by Puerto Rican singer Ismael Quintana and Cuban vocalist Justo Betancourt. Fania Records, the salsa label, mourned the star's death, calling him 'one of the most innovative and unique artists in music history.' 'We will miss him greatly,' it added. Born in Harlem, New York, to Puerto Rican parents, Palmieri was the younger brother of pianist Charlie Palmieri and entered the music scene at a young age; seen in 2011 A few years later, in 1972, he performed at Sing Sing, a prison in New York, in front of an audience largely made up of Latino and Black inmates, according to The Washington Post. 'For all humanity!' Palmieri shouted through a loudspeaker in the prison yard, the newspaper reported. He added that there should be 'no walls,' 'no fear,' and 'only one thing in life: freedom in the years to come.' 'He was a mentor, teacher, and tireless advocate for Latin music and culture,' read a tribute on his social media. 'He inspired generations of musicians and moved countless listeners with his artistry, conviction, and unmistakable sound.' He is survived by five children and four grandchildren. His wife, Iraida Palmieri, passed away in 2014.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Groudbreaking Latin music legend Eddie Palmieri dies at 88
Eddie Palmieri, the avant-garde musician who was one of the most innovative artists of rumba and Latin jazz, has died. He was 88. Fania Records announced Palmieri's death Wednesday evening. Palmieri's daughter Gabriela told The New York Times that her father died earlier that day at his home in New Jersey after "an extended illness." The pianist, composer and bandleader was the first Latino to win a Grammy Award and would win seven more over a career that spanned nearly 40 albums. Palmieri was born in New York's Spanish Harlem on December 15, 1936, at a time when music was seen as a way out of the ghetto. He began studying the piano at an early age, like his famous brother Charlie Palmieri, but at age 13, he began playing timbales in his uncle's orchestra, overcome with a desire for the drums. He eventually abandoned the instrument and went back to the playing piano. "I'm a frustrated percussionist, so I take it out on the piano," the musician once said in his website biography. His first Grammy win came in 1975 for the album "The Sun of Latin Music," and he kept releasing music into his 80s, performing through the coronavirus pandemic via livestreams. In a 2011 interview with The Associated Press, when asked if he had anything important left to do, he responded with his usual humility and good humor: "Learning to play the piano well. ... Being a piano player is one thing. Being a pianist is another." Palmieri dabbled in tropical music as a pianist during the 1950s with the Eddie Forrester Orchestra. He later joined Johnny Seguí's band and Tito Rodríguez's before forming his own band in 1961, La Perfecta, alongside trombonist Barry Rogers and singer Ismael Quintana. La Perfecta was the first to feature a trombone section instead of trumpets, something rarely seen in Latin music. With its unique sound, the band quickly joined the ranks of Machito, Tito Rodríguez, and other Latin orchestras of the time. Palmieri produced several albums on the Alegre and Tico Records labels, including the 1971 classic "Vámonos pa'l monte," with his brother Charlie as guest organist. Charlie Palmieri died in 1988. Eddie's unconventional approach would surprise critics and fans again that year with the release of "Harlem River Drive," in which he fused Black and Latin styles to produce a sound that encompassed elements of salsa, funk, soul and jazz. Later, in 1974, he recorded "The Sun of Latin Music" with a young Lalo Rodríguez. The album became the first Latin production to win a Grammy. The following year he recorded the album "Eddie Palmieri & Friends in Concert, Live at the University of Puerto Rico," considered by many fans to be a salsa gem. In the 1980s, he won two more Grammy Awards, for the albums "Palo pa' rumba" (1984) and "Solito" (1985). A few years later, he introduced the vocalist La India to the salsa world with the production "Llegó La India vía Eddie Palmieri." Palmieri released the album "Masterpiece" in 2000, which teamed him with the legendary Tito Puente, who died that year. It was a hit with critics and won two Grammy Awards. The album was also chosen as the most outstanding production of the year by the National Foundation for Popular Culture of Puerto Rico. During his long career, he participated in concerts and recordings with the Fania All-Stars and Tico All-Stars, standing out as a composer, arranger, producer, and orchestra director. In 1988, the Smithsonian Institute recorded two of Palmieri's concerts for the catalog of the National Museum of American History in Washington. Yale University in 2002 awarded him the Chubb Fellowship Award, an award usually reserved for international heads of state, in recognition of his work in building communities through music. In 2005, he made his debut on National Public Radio as the host of the program "Caliente," which was carried by more than 160 radio stations nationwide. He worked with renowned musicians such as timbalero Nicky Marrero, bassist Israel "Cachao" López, trumpeter Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros, trombonist Lewis Khan, and Puerto Rican bassist Bobby Valentín. In 2010, Palmieri said he felt a bit lonely musically due to the deaths of many of the rumberos with whom he enjoyed playing with. As a musical ambassador, he brought salsa and Latin jazz to places as far afield as North Africa, Australia, Asia and Europe, among others. ___ Former Associated Press Writer Sigal Ratner-Arias is the primary author of this obituary.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Eddie Palmieri, Grammy-winning pioneer of Latin jazz and salsa music, dies at 88
Eddie Palmieri, a Grammy-winning pianist and bandleader who helped define Latin jazz, has died. He was 88. The famed musician died Wednesday, Aug. 6, according to Fania Records, a label responsible for several of his hit albums. "Today, Fania Records mourns the loss of the legendary Eddie Palmieri, one of the most innovative and unique artists in music history," the company wrote in a statement. The musician's youngest daughter, Gabriela Palmieri, told The New York Times her father had died following an "extended illness." A musical multihyphenate, Palmieri was both a pianist himself and a mastermind outside the orchestra, composing, directing, arranging and producing. Reared in Spanish Harlem, New York, he soaked up the sounds of jazz in the city and took after a musical family, playing drums in his uncle's orchestra. Drawing on his Puerto Rican roots, Palmieri's signature styling became a blend of Afro-Caribbean and jazz sounds. He would go on to found groups such as La Perfecta, La Perfecta II and Harlem River Drive, collaborating with other musicians to innovate in the salsa genre and bring a new twist to the big band sound of the decade. "Over the course of his seven-decade-long career, Eddie recorded for labels such as Tico, Alegre, Fania, Concord Picante, RMM and Coco Records, leaving an indelible mark on over four dozen albums," Fania said in its statement. Among those projects was "The Sun of Latin Music," the first Latin album to win a Grammy in 1974. "He will be greatly missed," the statement concluded. Palmieri, who was known not just for his musical prowess but for his full-bodied approach to conducting, became an elder statesman of both salsa and Latin jazz in later years, serving as the gold standard for innovation and creativity. "(I) work with complex African rhythmic patterns that are centuries old," he told MusicianGuide in an interview. "The intriguing thing for me is to layer jazz phrasings and harmony on top of those patterns."
