Overview

• Eddie Palmieri died August 6 in his New Jersey home at age 88 from a heart attack after a prolonged illness, according to Fania Records and his daughter, Gabriela Palmieri.
• In 1961 he founded La Perfecta, pioneering a trombone-led orchestra that reshaped the sound of salsa and Afro-Latin jazz.
• He became the first Latino to win a Grammy in 1975 for The Sun of Latin Music and went on to collect ten Grammy Awards, a NEA Jazz Masters Award and a Latin Recording Academy lifetime honor.
• Over a seven-decade career, Palmieri mentored artists such as Ismael Quintana and La India and later championed Latin jazz through smaller ensembles.
• Musicians and industry figures including Bobby Cruz and La India paid homage to his legacy, highlighting his influence as a cultural ambassador and educator.