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2w ago

Eddie Palmieri, Latin Jazz Pioneer, Dies at 88

He died after a long illness in New Jersey, closing a career that reshaped salsa through bold trombone-driven scores rooted in Afro-Caribbean rhythms.

FILE - Pianist Eddie Palmieri poses for a portrait in New York, Aug. 15, 2011. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
Latin pianist and jazz pioneer Eddie Palmieri has died at the age of 88 after prolonged illness.
Image
FILE - Tito Puente Jr., center, speaks after Eddie Palmieri, left, and the late Tito Puente win the Grammy for best salsa album for "Masterpiece/Obra Maestra," at the 43rd annual Grammy Awards, Feb. 21, 2001, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)

Overview

  • Palmieri passed away on August 6, 2025 at his home in New Jersey following an extended illness, according to a post on his official Facebook page and statements from his daughter.
  • His seven-decade career produced nearly 40 albums and continued into his 80s with performances that included livestreams during the coronavirus pandemic.
  • In 1975 he became the first Latino to win a Grammy Award and amassed ten Grammys overall, alongside honors such as the NEA Jazz Masters Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Recording Academy.
  • He formed La Perfecta in 1961, pioneering a trombone section in salsa orchestration and developing a thunderous, percussive piano style that challenged musical boundaries.
  • He is survived by five children and four grandchildren, and tributes have poured in celebrating his transformative impact on Latin jazz and global music culture.