Eddie Palmieri, who revolutionized Latin music and performed a significant function within the salsa explosion in New York Metropolis, handed away Wednesday on the age of 88, in keeping with the artist’s official social media account.
The “legendary pianist, composer, bandleader, and one of the crucial influential figures in Latin music historical past, handed away in his New Jersey residence on Aug 6,” learn a put up on Palmieri’s Instagram deal with, alongside a photograph of the artist.
Fania Information, the salsa label, mourned the star’s dying, calling him “one of the crucial modern and distinctive artists in music historical past.”
“We’ll miss him enormously,” it added.
Born in Harlem, New York, to Puerto Rican mother and father, Palmieri was the youthful brother of pianist Charlie Palmieri and entered the music scene at a younger age.
As a teen, he took piano classes at Carnegie Corridor whereas additionally studying to play the timbales.
He started performing professionally in bands, together with a two-year stint with Puerto Rican musician Tito Rodriguez.
Palmieri is acknowledged for having revolutionized the sound of Latin jazz and salsa, with a profession spanning greater than seven a long time.
In 1961, he based the band “La Perfecta”, which redefined salsa by changing trumpets with trombones.
4 years later, his observe “Azucar Pa Ti” (Sugar For You) turned a dancefloor hit — and a long time later, was added to the gathering of the US Library of Congress.
In 1975, he turned the primary Latin artist to win a Grammy, for his album “The Solar of Latin Music,” which gained within the newly established Finest Latin Recording class.
Palmieri was additionally one of many earliest salsa musicians to undertake a political tone in his compositions.
In 1969, he launched the album “Justicia” (Justice), that includes lyrics that tackled inequality, social justice, and discrimination, with vocals by Puerto Rican singer Ismael Quintana and Cuban vocalist Justo Betancourt.
A couple of years later, in 1972, he carried out at Sing Sing, a jail in New York, in entrance of an viewers largely made up of Latino and Black inmates, in keeping with The Washington Publish.
“For all humanity!” Palmieri shouted by a loudspeaker within the jail yard, the newspaper reported.
He added that there must be “no partitions,” “no concern,” and “just one factor in life: freedom within the years to come back.”
“He was a mentor, trainer, and tireless advocate for Latin music and tradition,” learn a tribute on his social media.
“He impressed generations of musicians and moved numerous listeners along with his artistry, conviction, and unmistakable sound.”
He’s survived by 5 youngsters and 4 grandchildren. His spouse, Iraida Palmieri, handed away in 2014.
The put up Eddie Palmieri, Latin music trailblazer, dies at 88 appeared first on Vanguard News.
