Musician Eddie Palmieri, a groundbreaking figure in Latin jazz, passes away at the age of 88.
Eddie Palmieri, a pioneering figure in salsa music, has died at the age of 88. Fania Records announced his passing on Wednesday evening, marking the end of an illustrious career that spanned over six decades.
Born in New York's Spanish Harlem on December 15, 1936, Palmieri began his musical journey playing piano with Latin dance ensembles in the 1950s. He worked with renowned musicians such as timbalero Nicky Marrero, bassist Israel "Cachao" Lopez, trumpeter Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros, trombonist Lewis Khan, and Puerto Rican bassist Bobby Valentín.
In 1961, Palmieri formed his own band, La Perfecta, which stood out for its innovative use of trombones replacing the traditional violins, creating a distinctive "trombanga" sound that influenced salsa music’s development. La Perfecta featured notable collaborators like trombonist Barry Rogers and singer Ismael Quintana.
Palmieri's style was marked by a uniquely percussive piano approach and complex harmonic concepts influenced by jazz, particularly by pianists like McCoy Tyner.
Regarding Grammy triumphs, Palmieri won the first-ever Latin Grammy in 1975 for his album The Sun of Latin Music, featuring a young Lalo Rodríguez. This album was pivotal in bringing Latin production to broader recognition. Other key albums include Vámonos pa'l monte (1971), Harlem River Drive (1971), which blended salsa with funk, soul, and jazz, and Masterpiece (2000), a collaboration with the legendary Tito Puente that won two Grammy Awards.
In the 1980s, he won two more Grammy Awards, for the albums Palo pa' rumba (1984) and Solito (1985). Over his career, Palmieri released nearly 40 albums and was recognized as an NEA Jazz Master in 2013.
Eddie Palmieri was pivotal in fusing jazz piano techniques and Latin rhythms, innovating salsa music’s sound and achieving groundbreaking recognition with multiple Grammy wins throughout his career. His legacy will continue to influence the world of Latin music for generations to come.
Key Career and Grammy-Related Points
- Early career highlights: 1950s pianist with Tito Rodríguez and Eddie Forrester orchestras; formed La Perfecta (1961)
- Band innovation: La Perfecta’s trombone-led sound, distinct from trumpets or charanga violins
- Notable collaborators: Barry Rogers (trombone), Ismael Quintana (vocals), Bob Bianco (guitar)
- Landmark albums: The Sun of Latin Music (1975, first Latin Grammy winner); Vámonos pa'l monte (1971); Harlem River Drive (1971); Masterpiece (2000)
- Grammy achievements: 1975 (The Sun of Latin Music, first Latin Grammy), 2000 (Masterpiece), 2006 (Simpático)
- Awards and honors: NEA Jazz Master (2013)
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After becoming the first Latin artist to win a Grammy award in 1975 for his album "The Sun of Latin Music," Eddie Palmieri continued to push boundaries in both music and entertainment, delivering iconic records such as "Vámonos pa'l monte" (1971) and "Harlem River Drive" (1971), which combined elements of salsa, funk, soul, and jazz. Throughout his illustrious career, Palmieri's discography expanded to include nearly 40 albums and incorporated collaboration with some of the brightest stars in the world of books, including "Masterpiece" (2000), a remarkable collaboration with Tito Puente that earned them a pair of Grammy Awards.
