Wikipedia

Johnny Pacheco

In thisSpanish name,the first or paternalsurnameisPachecoand the second or maternal family name isKnipping.

Juan Pablo Knipping Pacheco(25 March 1935 – 15 February 2021),[1]known asJohnny Pacheco,was a Dominican musician, arranger, composer, bandleader, and record producer. Born in theDominican Republic,Pacheco became a leading figure in the New Yorksalsascene in the 1960s and 1970s as the founder and musical director ofFania Records.[2]

Johnny Pacheco
Background information
Birth nameJuan Pablo Knipping Pacheco
Born(1935-03-25)25 March 1935
Santiago de los Caballeros,Dominican Republic
OriginNew York City
Died15 February 2021(2021-02-15)(aged 85)
Teaneck, New Jersey,United States
Genres
Occupations
Instruments
Years active1955–2021
Labels
Formerly of

Pacheco was one of the leading exponents ofpachanga,a blend ofCubanrhythms andDominicanmerenguein the late 1950s. He popularized the use of the term "salsa" and established theFania All-Starsto showcase the leading artists of the genre,[3]which propelled him to worldwide fame and had an important role in the evolution ofLatin music.[4]

Pacheco was a nine-timeGrammynominee and was awarded theLatin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awardbythe Latin Recording Academyin 2005.

Early life and family

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Juan Pablo Pacheco Knipping was born on 25 March 1935 inSantiago de los Caballeros,a city in theDominican Republic.[5]He inherited his passion for music from his father, Rafael Azarías Pacheco, who was theleaderandclarinetistof the Orquesta Santa Cecilia. One of the leading Dominicanbig bandsof the 1930s, the Orquesta was the first to recordLuis Alberti's merengue "Compadre Pedro Juan". Rafael was the grandson of a Spanish soldier who arrived during theSpanish reannexation of Santo Domingo.[6]His mother, Octavia Knipping Rochet, was the granddaughter of a French colonist, and the great-granddaughter of a German merchant who was married to a Dominican woman born to Spanish colonists.[7][8]

Pacheco and his family left the Dominican Republic forNew York Citywhen he was eleven years old. As a child, he learned to play several instruments including accordion, violin, flute, saxophone and clarinet.[9]He later attendedBrooklyn Technical High School,majoring in electrical engineering. He worked in this field for a time, but eventually quit due to low salary levels.[10]He studied percussion at theJuilliard School.From his first marriage, Pacheco had two daughters, Norma and Joanne. From his second marriage, Pacheco had two sons, Philip and Elis, who also excelled in the music business. Pacheco married his long time girlfriend Cuqui in 1984, and they remained together until his passing.[11]

Early music career

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In 1953, Pacheco played percussion and sang with Gil Suárez's band. In the following year, he co-founded The Chuchulecos Boys withEddie Palmierion piano,Barry Rogerson trombone and other future figures of renown in the New York salsa scene: Al Santiago, Mike Collazo and Ray Santos. They played at weddings and other social events. He later played percussion for several bands, includinglate-night shows,Lou Pérez's band The Mambaleros, and the popular orchestras ofTito Puente,Xavier CugatandDioris Valladares.[10]

La Duboney

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In October 1958, Pacheco met pianistCharlie Palmieriand he joined him to record theLatin jazzalbumEasy Does It,released by Gone Records. Pacheco playedcongasandbongos.Palmieri and Pacheco then formed the charanga La Duboney in 1959, where Pacheco played flute. However, he soon grew dissatisfied with his role in the group; Palmieri's name was featured on the cover of the LPs but not his, despite his role as lead arranger and co-director. Moreover, Palmieri's style was more sophisticated and less marketable, while Pacheco favored simplerson-based arrangements. After only one LP,Let's Dance the Charanga(United Artists), Pacheco left La Duboney to form his own charanga in 1960.[10]

Pacheco y su Charanga

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Pacheco formed his own band, Pacheco Y Su Charanga, in 1960. Their firstpromotional single"El güiro de Macorina" / "Óyeme mulata", received much airplay in New York from DJ Rafael Font. Al Santiago, owner ofAlegre Records,decided to offer Pacheco and his band a record deal. Their debut albumPacheco Y Su Charanga Vol. 1sold 100,000 copies within the first year of its release.[9]Pacheco's success led to a new dance fad, thepachanga(combination of "Pacheco" and "charanga" ).[9]The music for the pachanga was heavily influenced by the uptempomerengueandcha-cha-chahybrid style originated byEduardo Davidsonin 1959;José Fajardo's charanga popularized this style in Cuba.[12]

Pacheco toured throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America in support of the album. Pacheco Y Su Charanga were the first Latin band to headlinethe Apollo Theater in New York City;they did so in 1962 and 1963.[13]

The band's success led them to record four more albums for Alegre Records (Vols II–V). Pachecco also reunited with Charlie Palmieri for two albums: the 1961 jam sessionAlegre All-Starsand the collaborative albumLas charangas.However, Al Santiago encountered financial difficulties, influencing Pacheco's decision to exit Alegre Records in 1963.[10]

Fania Records

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In late 1963, Pacheco metJerry Masucci,a lawyer, and soon they co-founded Fania Records. Pacheco was the VP,A&Rcreative director, and musical producer of the new label. At Fania, Pacheco launched and solidified the careers of many popular salsa artists. He named the label after the song "Fanía" by Reinaldo Bolaños, made famous byEstrellas de Chocolatein Cuba in 1960.[14]

Pacheco y su Nuevo Tumbao

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Pacheco reorganized hischarangaand transformed it into aconjuntoby adding trumpets instead of violins.[10]His first album with his new band, Pacheco y su Nuevo Tumbao, wasCañonazo,the first release on Fania Records. FeaturingPete "El Conde" Rodríguezon vocals, the album was the first of many recordings by the "compadres" (literally, "godfathers" ), as Pacheco and El Conde were later known. Except for the closing song on the album "Dakar, punto final", all the songs were covers, including the aforementioned "Fanía", the title track and "El kikirikí" by Evaristo Aparicio, Eduardo Angulo's "Cabio sile yeyeo",Cheo Marquetti's "Pinareño" and Walfrido Guevara's "Labrando la tierra", all by popular Cuban artists of the 1950s and 1960s.[15]

In 1965, Pacheco recorded three albums, two of which featuredMonguito el Únicoas lead vocalist:Pacheco at the N.Y. World's FairandPacheco te invita a bailar.The third album consisted of instrumentaldescargas(jam sessions), and was calledPacheco, His Flute and Latin Jam.[10]In 1966, Pacheco worked with Monguito and Chivirico Dávila to record another album,Viva África,[16]named after the fact that Pacheco had recently toured the continent.[10]He then reverted to the charanga format for one album, aptly titledPacheco y su Charanga: By Popular Demand.In 1967, he recordedSabor típicowith Pete "El Conde" andPacheco Presents Monguito,the debut album of Monguito el Único as lead artist. In 1968, he recorded the instrumental albumLatin PiperandVolando bajitowith El Conde on lead vocals. Pacheco and El Conde then recorded three collaborative albums:Los compadres(1970),Perfecta combinación(1971) andTres de café y dos de azúcar(1973), as well as five reunion albums between 1980 and 1989.[10]

Fania All-Stars

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Further information:Fania All-StarsandDescarga § 1960s: from Havana to New York

Having recorded Cuban-style jam sessions (descargas) with both the Alegre All-Stars (1961) and the Tico All-Stars (Live at the Village Gate,1966), Pacheco decided to record a live album to showcase the Fania roster of salsa musicians. The resulting albumLive at the Red Garter(1968) was a success and has been described as an "excellent and promising start for the supergroup".[17]Among the stars featured in the concert were pianistLarry Harlow,bassistBobby Valentínand congueroRay Barretto.[18]The lineup of the group varied over the years, and by the time of their second show,Live at the Cheetah(1971), many members had changed.[19]

Pacheco y su Tumbao Añejo

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In 1974, Pacheco replaced El Conde (who went on a successful solo career) with Héctor Casanova and renamed his band Pacheco y su Tumbao Añejo ( "Pacheco and hisoldtumbao",as opposed to his previous band" thenewtumbao ").[10]They releasedEl maestroin 1975 andEl artistain 1977. However, Pacheco's focus during the 1970s, apart from the All-Stars, was a series of collaborative albums between members of the label, including himself. He collaborated withCelia Cruz,Justo Betancourt,Papo Lucca,Pupi Legarreta,Luis "Melón" Silva,Celio GonzálezandJosé Fajardo,among others.[10]With Héctor Casanova he released another album,Los amigos,in 1979. After his various reunion albums with El Conde, including the Nuevo Tumbao 25th anniversary albumCelebration,Pacheco released¡Sima!in 1993, his last studio album.[10]

Legacy

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Pacheco recorded and composed over 150 songs. Among them are "Mi Gente","La Dicha Mia "," Quítate Tú "(Pa’ Ponerme Yo)," Acuyuye, "" El Rey de la Puntualidad, "Tito Puente's" El Número Cien, "and Celia Cruz'sCelia y Tito.Pacheco has also been an inspiration to the younger generations. For example, rap artist Mangu invited him to collaborate on an album entitledCalle Luna y Calle Sol;Pacheco arranged the album, sang in the chorus, and played the flute. Pacheco also produced music for feature films. The first film he worked on was the 1972 documentaryOur Latin Thing;this was also the first film about the influence of salsa on Latino culture in New York City. His second filmSalsareleased in 1974. In the 1980s, he composed the scores forMondo New YorkandSomething Wild.The latter was a collaboration withDavid Byrne,the lead singer of the groupTalking Heads.[20]Several tracks that he arranged, produced, and/or performed were included on the soundtrack of the 1992Warner Brothersfilm,The Mambo Kings.[21]

Pacheco performed in the 1988AIDSbenefit concert "Concierto Por La Vida", held atAvery Fisher Hall.He also collaborated with the Hispanic Federation Relief Fund to raise money for the victims ofHurricane Georges.[22]Pacheco established the Johnny Pacheco Scholarship Fund in 1994 for college students in theNew York metropolitan area.[23]

The Johnny Pacheco Latin Music and Jazz Festival is an annual event that is held in mid-November atLehman College.[24][25][26]

Awards and recognition

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Pacheco earned nine Grammy nominations and tengold records.[20]His contributions to Latin Music have been recognized throughout his career.

In 1996, the then-President of the Dominican Republic,Joaquín Balaguer,conferred the prestigious Presidential Medal of Honor on Pacheco. A year later, Pacheco was the recipient of the Bobby Capó Lifetime Achievement Award, awarded by New York GovernorGeorge Pataki.In addition, Pacheco received the First International Dominican Artist Award at the Casandra Awards. In June 1996, Johnny Pacheco became the first Latin music producer to receive theNational Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences(NARAS) Governor's Award.[27]

In 1998, Pacheco was among the first group of artists inducted intoInternational Latin Music Hall of Fame(ILMHF). The ILMHF awarded him the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002.[28]

In 2004, Pacheco was awarded theAmerican Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers,ASCAP Silver Pen Award.[29]

On 5 June 2005, Pacheco was honored byUnion City, New Jerseywith a star on the Walk of Fame at Union City'sCelia CruzPark.[30]

In 2005, the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences awarded Johnny Pacheco with its Lifetime Achievement Award at that years Latin Grammys.[31]

In 2007, Pacheco was portrayed byNelson Vasquezin the movieEl Cantante,starringMarc AnthonyandJennifer Lopez.[32]

On 24 March 2009, Pacheco was awarded "El Soberano", the highest distinction given by the Association of Art Columnists of the Dominican Republic.[33]

In August 2020, Johnny Pacheco's composition "Celia y Tito" by Tito Puente and Celia Cruz was featured in the 4th-season finale of the NBC TV network program "World of Dance" which is produced and judged by international film and recording star Jennifer Lopez.[34]

Death

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A resident ofFort Lee, New Jersey,Pacheco died atHoly Name Medical CenterinTeaneckon 15 February 2021, aged 85, after being admitted to the hospital withpneumonia-related complications.[35]He was funeralized atSt. Cecilia Catholic ChurchinEast Harlem.[36]

Discography

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As leader

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Alegre Records
  • Pacheco y Su Charanga, Vol. 1(1960)[37]
  • Pacheco y su Charanga, Vol. 2(1961)[37]
  • The Alegre All-Stars, Vol. 1(1961)[38]
  • Que Suene la Flauta, Vol. 3(1962)[37]
  • Suavito, Vol. 4(1962)[37]
  • Spotlight on Pacheco, Vol. 5(1963)[37]
  • Las Charangas(1963)[37]
Fania Records
  • Cañonazo(1964)[37]
  • Pacheco at the N.Y. World's Fair(1964)[37]
  • Pacheco, His Flute and Latin Jam(1965)[37]
  • By Popular Demand(1966)[37]
  • Viva África(1966)[37]
  • Pacheco Te Invita a Bailar(1967)[37]
  • Sabor Típico(1967)[37]
  • Pacheco presents Monguito(1968)[37]
  • Volando Bajito(1968)[37]
  • Los Dinámicos(1970)[37]
  • La Perfecta Combinación(1971)[37]
  • Los Compadres(1972)[37]
  • Tres de Café y Dos de Azúcar(1973)[37]
  • Celia & Johnny(1974)[37]
  • Tremendo Caché(1975)[37]
  • El Maestro(1976)[37]
  • Recordando el Ayer(1977)[37]
  • The Artist(1977)[37]
  • Llegó Melón(1977)[37]
  • Eternoscon Celia Cruz (1978)[37]
  • Champ(1980)[37]
  • Los Amigos(1980)[37]
  • Las Tres Flautaswith Pupi Legarreta and José Fajardo (1980)[37]
  • El Zorro de Plata y El Flaco de Oro(1981)[37]
  • De Nuevo Los Compadres(1983)[37]
  • Jícamo(1985)[37]
  • Salsobita(1987)[37]
  • Celebración(1989)[37]
  • ¡Sima!(1993)[37]
  • De Nuevowith Celia Cruz[37]
  • Flying High[37]
  • Los Dos Mosqueteros[37]
  • La Crema[37]
  • Sabrosura[37]
  • Los Distinguidos[37]
  • De Película(Rolando Laserie)[37]
  • Pacheco y Fajardo[37]
  • Celia, Johnny y Pete[37]
  • Entre Amigos[37]
Compilations
  • Había Una Vez(Once Upon a Time) (1973)[39]
  • 10 Great Years(1973)[39]
  • Lo Mejor de Pacheco(The Best of Pacheco) (1974)[39]
  • Introducing...(1989)[39]
  • Pacheco's Party(1994)[39]
  • Johnny Pacheco(2000)[40]
  • The Best of Johnny Pacheco(2001)[39]
  • Lo Mejor(2004)[39]
  • Reserva Musical(2008)[41]

As sideman

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WithMelanie

WithGeorge Benson

WithKenny Burrell

WithJ. J. Johnson

WithJohnny Lytle

WithLes McCann

WithMcCoy Tyner

WithKai Winding

With the Fania All-Stars

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  • Live at the Red Garter Vol. 1[37]
  • Live at the Red Garter Vol. 2[37]
  • Live at the Cheetah Vol. 1[37]
  • Live at the Cheetah Vol. 2[37]
  • Live at Yankee Stadium Vol. 1[37]
  • Live at Yankee Stadium Vol. 2[37]
  • Live in Africa[37]
  • Live in San Juan – 1973[37]
  • A Tribute to Tito Rodríguez[37]
  • Live in Japan – 1976[37]
  • Delicate and Jumpy[37]
  • Spanish Fever[37]
  • Rhythm Machine[37]
  • Crossover[37]
  • Commitment[37]
  • Viva La Charanga[37]
  • Latin Connection[37]
  • Lo Que Pide La Gente[37]
  • Bamboleo[37]
  • California Jam[37]
  • Havana Jam[37]
  • Guasasa[37]
  • Social Change[37]
  • Bravo[37]
  • The Perfect Blend[37]
  • Viva Colombia – The Cali Concert[37]
  • Live in Puerto Rico – 1993[37]

Filmography

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  • Our Latin Thing(Fania 1972)
  • Salsa(Fania, 1974)
  • Celia cruz and the Fania All Stars In Africa(Fania, 1993)
  • Live(Fania, 1995)
  • Soul Power(2009)

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Johnny Pacheco, founder of New York's Latin label Fania, dies aged 85".The Guardian.16 February 2021.Retrieved2 October2021.
  2. ^"Interview: A Visit with Maestro Johnny Pacheco".Descarga.Archived fromthe originalon 16 September 2000.Retrieved29 April2016.
  3. ^"Latin Music USA".PBS.Retrieved29 April2016.
  4. ^Rossi, Rosemary (16 February 2021)."Johnny Pacheco, Salsa Music Pioneer, Dies at 85".Yahoo!.
  5. ^Colin Larkin,ed. (1992).The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music(First ed.).Guinness Publishing.pp. 1887/8.ISBN0-85112-939-0.
  6. ^"Cápsulas genealógicasRestauración, soldados españoles y genealogía".Hoy.do.20 June 2014.Retrieved29 April2016.
  7. ^"Instituto Dominicano de Genealogía, Inc".Idg.org.do.Retrieved29 April2016.
  8. ^"Huellas de familia"(PDF).Idg.org.do.Retrieved29 April2016.
  9. ^abcTenreyro, Tatiana (16 February 2021)."R.I.P. Salsa pioneer and Fania Records co-founder Johnny Pacheco".Yahoo.Retrieved17 February2021.
  10. ^abcdefghijkCampo Uribe, Andrés (April 2005)."Johnny Pacheco: una invocación musical".Herencia Latina(in Spanish).Retrieved30 January2021.
  11. ^Amorosi, A. D. (16 February 2021)."Johnny Pacheco, Influential Salsa Musician and Fania Records Co-Founder, Dies at 85".Variety.Retrieved16 February2021.
  12. ^Thompson, Robert Farris(28 October 1961)."Portrait of the Pachanga".Saturday Review.44(4): 43.
  13. ^"Johnny Pacheco, the 'Godfather of Salsa' and soul of Fania Records, dies at 85".Los Angeles Times.16 February 2021.Retrieved17 February2021.
  14. ^Orejuela, Adriana (2006).El son no se fue de Cuba: claves para una historia 1959–1973(in Spanish). Havana, Cuba: Editorial Letras Cubanas. p. 203.ISBN9789591011497.
  15. ^Lorenci, Miguel (16 February 2021)."Johnny Pacheco, padre y leyenda de la salsa, muere a los 85 años".El Correo.Retrieved17 February2021.
  16. ^Clarke, Donald,The Penguin Encyclopedia Of Popular Music,ISBN0-14-051147-4
  17. ^Bush, John."Live at the Red Garter, Vol. 1".AllMusic.Retrieved30 January2021.
  18. ^Unterberger, Richie (1999).Music USA.The Rough Guide. pp. 50–51.ISBN978-1-85828-421-7.
  19. ^"Iconic music festival sets: Fania All-Stars, New York City 1971".the Guardian.10 August 2020.Retrieved17 February2021.
  20. ^abEvan Bailyn."Artists – Pacheco, Johnny".Music of Puerto Rico. Archived fromthe originalon 22 February 2012.Retrieved31 March2012.
  21. ^"Various – The Mambo Kings (Selections From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (CD) at Discogs".Discogs. 1992.Retrieved31 March2012.
  22. ^"Muere Johnny Pacheco, uno de los grandes de la salsa y fundador de la Fania All Stars".France 24.15 February 2021.Retrieved17 February2021.
  23. ^Domínguez, Robert (11 March 2009)."Johnny Pacheco's birthday bash".nydailynews.Retrieved17 February2021.
  24. ^"The Percussion Studio - The Pacheco Festival".percussionstudio.Retrieved28 February2021.
  25. ^"Open BXRx Tuesday | 2020 Johnny Pacheco Latin Music and Jazz Festival".Bronxnet.Retrieved28 February2021.
  26. ^Domínguez, Robert."Johnny Pacheco's birthday bash".nydailynews.Retrieved28 February2021.
  27. ^"Johnny Pacheco Biography Page".Johnnypacheco.Retrieved29 April2016.
  28. ^"International Latin Music Hall of Fame Announces Inductees for 2002".New York: Prnewswire. Archived fromthe originalon 24 September 2015.Retrieved31 March2012.
  29. ^"2004 ASCAP Silver Pen Award Honoring Johnny Pacheco".Johnnypacheco.Retrieved29 April2016.
  30. ^Rosero, Jessica."'La vida es un carnaval' North Hudson celebrates 6th annual Cuban Day Parade"The Hudson Reporter;26 May 2006
  31. ^Média, Bell."Salsa Icon Johnny Pacheco Dies At 85".Iheartradio.ca.Retrieved17 February2021.
  32. ^Amorosi, A. D. (16 February 2021)."Johnny Pacheco, Influential Salsa Musician and Fania Records Co-Founder, Dies at 85".Variety.Retrieved17 February2021.
  33. ^"El Soberano es de Johnny Pacheco".Diariolibre(in European Spanish). 25 March 2009.Retrieved17 February2021.
  34. ^"Jefferson y Adrianita:" Celia y Tito "by Celia Cruz and Tito Puente – World of Dance Finals 2020".Yahoo.Retrieved17 February2021.
  35. ^Lopez, Elias E. (15 February 2021)."Johnny Pacheco, Who Helped Bring Salsa to the World, Dies at 85".The New York Times.Retrieved15 February2021.
  36. ^"Último adiós al músico Jonny Pacheco".ny1noticias(in Spanish).Retrieved29 August2024.
  37. ^abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabacadaeafagahaiajakalamanaoapaqarasatauavawaxayazbabbbcbdbebfbgbhbibjbkblbmbnbobpbqbrbsbtbubvbwbxbybz"Johnny Pacheco – Credits".AllMusic.Retrieved16 February2021.
  38. ^"Talking Music – Salsa Timeline: Early 1960's Cuban Roots – Descargas".The New York Times.Retrieved15 February2021.
  39. ^abcdefg"Johnny Pacheco – Album Discography (Compilations)".AllMusic.Retrieved16 February2021.
  40. ^"Johnny Pacheco – Album Discography".AllMusic.Retrieved16 February2021.
  41. ^Almanzar, Ramón (11 August 2008)."Johnny Pacheco:" reserva musical dominicana "".Listín Diario.Retrieved15 February2021.
  42. ^"Johnny Pacheco – Album Discography (Compilations)".Melaniesafkarecordings.uk.Retrieved16 February2021.
  43. ^Lord, Tom (1995).The Jazz Discography.Vol. 13. Lord Music Reference. pp. 1680–1681.ISBN9781881993124.
  44. ^Lord, Tom (1995).The Jazz Discography.Vol. 25. Lord Music Reference. p. W-928.ISBN9781881993247.
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