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15h ago

Eddie Palmieri, Afro-Caribbean Latin Jazz Innovator, Dies at 88

His passing after a prolonged illness drew widespread tributes for the eight-time Grammy winner whose La Perfecta ensemble transformed salsa into a new jazz-infused sound.

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Latin jazz artist Eddie Palmieri attends the 7th annual Latin Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden Nov. 2, 2006, in New York City.
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Latin pianist and jazz pioneer Eddie Palmieri has died at the age of 88 after prolonged illness.

Overview

  • Eddie Palmieri died on August 6 at his New Jersey home after an extended illness, as confirmed by his daughter Gabriela Palmieri and announced by Fania Records.
  • He became the first Latino Grammy winner in 1975 and accumulated eight Grammys over a career spanning more than 40 albums.
  • In 1961 he founded La Perfecta, pioneering a trombone-driven brass section that reshaped the sonic palette of Afro-Caribbean and Latin jazz.
  • He championed the Best Latin Jazz Album Grammy, securing its creation in 1995 and advocating for its reinstatement after its brief elimination.
  • Fania Records and the Latin Recording Academy paid homage to his inventive compositions and unwavering advocacy for Latin music as a cultural ambassador.