Eddie Palmieri has died on the age of 88. The rumba and jazz musician died at his house in New Jersey on Wednesday. The musician, a trailblazer within the rumba and Latin jazz genres, loved a illustrious profession which spanned 70 years and noticed him win eight Grammy Awards. His unique, in 1975, was the primary time a Latino had ever gained a Grammy Award. The prolific pianist loved an illustrious profession which spanned over seven many years and was dubbed the “Madman of Salsa”. He died following an “prolonged sickness,” his daughter, Gabriela, advised The New York Occasions. Palmieri, from Harlem, New York, was a highly-revered pianist and first discovered to play the instrument when he was a baby. He discovered on the age of eight, and his brother Charlie, was an expert pianist. Charlie, generally known as the Large of the Keyboards, died in 1988.
Tributes have poured in for the legendary musician on social media. One fan penned: “Such a big loss for the music neighborhood; his contributions will all the time be remembered.” One other remarked: “RIP to an absolute legend.” A 3rd admired: “One in every of my mom’s favourite. She had his albums once I was rising up.” A fourth penned: “Such a profound loss for the music neighborhood; his contributions won’t ever be forgotten.” “An enormous has left the stage. Eddie Palmieri’s rhythms will echo eternally within the soul of salsa,” a fifth added.
The music legend beforehand opened up about studying the piano however was fascinated by the drums and determined to play the timbales in his uncle’s orchestra.
“It was my mom who put my brother on the instrument and I got here alongside 9 years later,” Palmieri advised The Savannah Morning Information in 2009.
“No different brothers or sisters, it was simply us. I used to be fairly blessed.”
He then modified course and returned to taking part in the piano. “I am a pissed off percussionist, so I take it out on the piano,” Palmieri stated.
The musician performed alongside stars resembling Johnny Segul and Tito Rodriguez earlier than he launched La Perfecta, his personal band, in 1961.
He gained his first Grammy Award in 1975 for his album The Solar of Latin Music.
Palmieri scooped one other two Grammy Awards within the Nineteen Eighties. He labored with Tito Puente and their album Masterpiece noticed the duo decide up two Grammy gongs.
His ultimate Grammy win got here in 2007 for the album Simpatico, which suggests good or pleasant when translated into English.
He was nominated for 14 Grammy Awards throughout his music profession and launched greater than 40 albums.
The Latin Recording Academy has led tributes to Palmieri describing him as a “pioneer of salsa” and a “visionary of Latin jazz”.
“His expertise broke limitations, merging custom with innovation, and leaving an indelible mark on generations of musicians and music lovers,” it stated.
“He all the time had a deep dedication to tradition, and his invaluable contributions cemented him as one of many nice pillars of the Latin sound worldwide.”