Overview

• Fania Records confirmed that Palmieri died Wednesday at his New Jersey home after a prolonged illness, a detail also verified by his youngest daughter to the New York Times.
• Born in New York in 1936 to Puerto Rican immigrants, he founded his first orchestra, La Perfecta, in 1961 and became renowned for replacing trumpets with trombones.
• He made history as the first Latino to win a Grammy in 1975 and went on to earn eight in total, shaping the global salsa movement of the 1970s and 1980s.
• Nicknamed “Rompeteclas” and “The Madman of Salsa,” his electrifying performances often featured him hammering the piano keys with his elbows.
• His 1972 concert at Sing Sing prison and socially conscious tracks like “Justicia” showcased his commitment to bringing music and equality advocacy to diverse audiences.