Johnny Pacheco is a Dominican producer, musician, bandleader, and one of the most influential figures in American salsa music.[1]Contents [hide] 1 Early life 2 Mid career highlights 3 Original Fania band 4 The 1990s 5 Other achievements 6 Awards and recognition 7 Discography 8 Fania All-Stars (musical director) 9 Notes 10 References 11 External links
[edit] Early life
Johnny Pacheco was born on March 24, 1930 in Santiago de los Caballeros. Pacheco inherited his passion for music from his father, Rafael Azarias Pacheco, who was the bandleader and clarinetist of the "Santa Cecilia Orchestra". In the early 1940s, when Pacheco was 11, his family moved to New York City from his native Dominican Republic. He continued polishing his musical skills, learning to play accordion, violin, flute, saxophone and clarinet. He attended the Juilliard School of Music to study percussion.
Playing the flute, saxophone and assorted percussion, Pacheco performed with Charlie Palmieri‘s Latin orchestra for a number of years before forming his own band in 1959. Experimentation was the focus of his new band, blending Cuban, Dominican, and Puerto Rican music of African heritage into what came to be known as salsa.
In 1960, he organized his first orchestra, "Pacheco y Su Charanga". The band signed with Alegre Records and its first album Johnny Pacheco y Su Charanga sold over 100,000 copies within the first year. Beginning then and through the end of 1963, Pacheco introduced a new dance craze called "Pachanga". He became an internationally renowned star and toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Moreover "Pacheco y Su Charanga" was the first Latin band to headline the Apollo in 1962 and 1963. [edit] Mid career highlights
In late 1963, Pacheco's career took another historical turn when he created Fania Records with Jerry Masucci. In 1964, the label released his next endeavor entitled Cañonazo (Cannon Shot). The album feature Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez on vocals and a switch from the Charanga to Conjunto style. This was the first of many recordings with the "compadres" (literally familial compatriots) (as they came to be known) and the beginning of a long friendship and working relationship. Together they recorded Los Compadres (1970), Perfecta Combinacion (Perfect Combination) (1971), Tres de Cafe y Dos de Azucar (Three Parts Coffee with Two Parts Sugar) (1973) and many other successful albums.
In June 1966, Pacheco was the first Latin music producer to receive the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) Governor's Award in New York City. In 1968 he gathered many of the musicians from the Fania label and showcased them together in concert. This marked the birth of the legendary Fania All-Stars.
Also in 1966, Johnny Pacheco worked with the nasal voiced singer Monguito "El Unico" (from Orquesta Broadway) and vocalist Chivirico Davila to record the seminal "Viva Africa" LP [2]. This album nods to Pacheco's increasing popularity at the time in West Africa.
As the company's executive, creative director and musical producer, Pacheco was responsible for launching the careers of many young stars that formed part of Fania Records family. [edit] Original Fania band
The early Fania All-Stars band was made up of Johnny Pacheco, musical director and flute; Larry Harlow on piano, Bobby Valentín(later replaced by Salvador "Sal" Cuevas) on bass guitar, Ray Barretto on conga, (replaced later on by others, including Mongo Santamaria, Johnny "Dandy" Rodriguez and Eddie Montalvo) Roberto Roena on bongo, Orestes Vilato (later replaced by Nicky Marrero on timbales due to a conflict with Ray Barreto. He went rebel and formed La Tipica 73 with Barreto's singer, Adalberto Santiago angering Barreto and forcing Patcheco to replace Vilato to prevent internal conflicts); Willie Colón, Barry Rodgers(subsiquently replaced), and Renaldo Jorge(replaced by several others) on trombones, Larry Spencer(also to be replaced), Roberto Rodriguez (replaced by Victor Paz, and subsequently by Juan "Juancito" Torres) and Hector "Bomberito" Zarzuela on trumpets, and Yomo Toro on the cuatro (a small Puerto Rican guitar with 5 pairs of strings). The lead singers included vocalists from the Colon, Pacheco, Barretto and Harlow bands. Héctor Lavoe, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez, Adalberto Santiago, Ismael Miranda, were joined by Santitos Colon (from the Tito Puente band), Jose Cheo Feliciano (from the Joe Cuba band) and Ismael Quintana (from the Eddie Palmieri orchestra). Early Fania All-Stars guests were Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, Joe Bataan, Monguito, Mongo Santamaría, Jimmy Sabater, La La, Louie Ramirez, Ralph Robles, Ricardo Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz. The 1970s line-up included Rubén Blades, Celia Cruz, Papo Lucca, Luigi Texidor, Jorge Santana (Carlos's brother), drummer Billy Cobham and the Cameroonian sax player Manu Dibango, who appeared as a guest in concerts and live recordings in Puerto Rico and New York. Later on singer Andy Montañez would join the band in the mid 90's. [edit] The 1990s
Throughout his 40-year involvement with the development of Afro Caribbean music, Pacheco has received many kudos.
In 1994, he established the Johnny Pacheco Scholarship Fund.
In 1996 the president of the Dominican Republic, Joaquín Balaguer bestowed him with the prestigious Presidential Medal of Honor. In 1997, he was the recipient of the Bobby Capó Lifetime Achievement Award, awarded by New York Governor George Pataki. In November 1998, he was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame. That same year, Pacheco was presented with the First International Dominican Artist Award from the distinguished Casandra Awards. [edit] Other achievements
He has recorded and composed more than 150 songs. Among them are "La Dicha Mia", "Quitate Tu" (Pa’ Ponerme Yo), "Acuyuye", "El Rey de la Puntualidad", Tito Puente‘s "El Numéro Cien" and Celia Cruz's "Celia y Tito". Pacheco was also inspirational to the younger generations. Rap artist Mangu asked him to write arrangements, sing chorus, and play the flute in his album "Calle Luna Y Calle Sol". Pacheco also produced music for feature films. He was the musical director of the film, Our Latin Thing, the first film about salsa and its influence on New York Latinos. And in 1974, he worked on a second film entitled Salsa. During the 1980s, he wrote the musical scores and themes for the films Mondo New York and Something Wild. The last one was in collaboration with David Byrne, leader of the group Talking Heads. He also worked with the feature film The Mambo Kings released by Warner Brothers.
Throughout his career, Pacheco has turned out over 60 recordings. His nine Grammy nominations, ten Gold records and numerous awards acknowledge his creative talent as composer, arranger, bandleader and producer.
Pacheco participated in the AIDS benefit concert "Concierto Por La Vida", in November 1988 at New York City's Avery Fisher Hall. He demonstrated his solidarity with the victims of Hurricane Georges (Zhorzh) by collaborating with the Hispanic Federation Relief Fund during "Hurricane Georges Relief Fund 1998". This event was transmitted live across the northeastern United States by the NBC television network. He also participated at an event at Hostos Community College for the same purpose. [edit] Awards and recognition
On March 24, 2009, Pacheco was awarded "El Soberano", the highest distinction given by the Association of Art Columnists of the Dominican Republic.
On June 5, 2005, Pacheco was honored by Union City, New Jersey with a star on the Walk of Fame at Union City's Celia Cruz Park.[3] [edit] Discography Pacheco y Su Charanga Vol 1 1960 (Alegre Records) Pacheco y su Charanga Vol 2 1961 (Alegre Records) Que Suene la Flauta Vol 3 1962 (Alegre Records) Suavito Vol 4 1962 (Alegre Records) Spotlight on Pacheco Vol 5 1963 (Alegre Records) The Alegre All Stars Vol 1 (Alegre Records) Once Upon A Time 1964 (Alegre Records) Las Charangas 1963 (Alegre Records) Canonazo 1964 (1st recording for Fania Records) Latin Jam 1965 Pacheco at the N.Y. World's Fair 1966 Pacheco - Te Invita a Bailar 1967 Viva Africa 1968 By Popular Demand 1965 Sabor Tipico 1967 Pacheco presents Monguito 1968 Volando Bajito 1969 Los Dinamicos 1970 La Perfecta Combinacion 1971 Los Compadres 1972 Tres de Cafe y Dos de Azucar 1973 10 Great Years 1974 Celia & Johnny 1974 Tremendo Cache 1975 El Maestro 1976 Recordando el Ayer 1977 The Artist 1977 El Zorro de Plata y El Flaco de Oro De Nuevo con Celia Cruz Jicamo Sima Salsobita Celebracion Llego Melon 1978 Eternos con Celia Cruz Introducing Johnny Pacheco Champ Los Amigos 1980 Flying High Los Dos Mosqueteros La Crema Sabrosura Los Distinguidos De Pelicula Las Tres Flautas Pacheco y Fajardo De Nuevo Los Compadres Celia, Johnny y Pete Entre Amigos [edit] Fania All-Stars (musical director) Live at the Red Garter Vol 1 Live at the Red Garter Vol 2 Live at the Cheetah Vol 1 Live at the Cheetah Vol 2 Live at Yankee Stadium Vol 1 Live at Yankee Stadium Vol 2 Live in Africa Live in San Juan - 1973 A Tribute to Tito Rodríguez Live in Japan - 1976 Delicate and Jumpy Spanish Fever Rhythm Machine Crossover Commitment Viva La Charanga Latin Connection Lo Que Pide La Gente Bamboleo California Jam Havana Jam Guasasa Social Change Bravo The Perfect Blend Viva Columbia - The Cali Concert Live in Puerto Rico - 1993
