Johnny Pacheco (1935-2021) made significant contributions to Latin music as a multi-instrumentalist performer, composer, band leader, and recording label executive. Born in the Dominican Republic, he moved at age 11 to New York City with his family and eventually studied at Julliard. He became active in the NYC Caribbean dance music scene of the 1950s, and emerged as a prolific and influential figure in the birth and development of salsa music. He co-founded Fania Records, the most important salsa music label of the 1960s and 1970s, and had a hand in advancing the careers of numerous Latin jazz, pop and salsa musicians of the time.
In this video, Johnny Pacheco, Celia Cruz and the Fania All Stars deliver an immortal performance of Junior Cepeda's song "Quimbara" in front of a live audience at the Statu Hai stadium in Kinshasa, Zaire, 1974. The Fania All Stars were primarily New York-based Puerto Rican and Cuban musicians, while founder Pacheco was Dominican. Pacheco is conducting while both he and Cruz dance with abandon.
Latin music is a huge area! It's impossible to cover all genres but here is a short selection of recent books on various Latin music genres and performers. Enjoy!