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17h ago

Eddie Palmieri, Latin Jazz and Salsa Innovator, Dies at 88

His death brings to an end seven decades of genre-defying innovation in Latin jazz and salsa.

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.
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Overview

  • Official statements and family confirmation report that Palmieri died at his New Jersey home on August 6 after an extended illness
  • He broke barriers as the first Latino Grammy winner in 1975 for The Sun of Latin Music and amassed ten Grammy Awards over nearly 40 albums
  • In 1961 he founded La Perfecta, pioneering the use of trombone-led ensembles and a thunderous, percussive piano style in salsa
  • Landmark works such as Azúcar Pa’ Ti and Harlem River Drive showcased his fusion of Afro-Caribbean rhythms with jazz, funk and socially conscious themes
  • His honors included the NEA Jazz Masters Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Recording Academy; he is survived by five children and four grandchildren