Latin Jazz Pioneer Eddie Palmieri Dies at 88

Eddie Palmieri, a pioneering figure in Latin jazz and salsa, died at age 88 after an extended illness. Born in New York City's Spanish Harlem, Palmieri revolutionized Latin music with his thunderous piano style and bold, genre-defying compositions, blending Afro-Caribbean roots with jazz, funk, soul, and socially conscious themes. He founded the influential band La Perfecta in 1961, which helped define salsa's New York style with innovative arrangements like the two-trombone sound. Palmieri was the first Latino to win a Grammy and earned 10 Grammys overall, alongside prestigious honors such as the NEA Jazz Masters Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Recording Academy. Throughout his seven-decade career, he remained a fearless innovator, merging traditional Afro-Caribbean rhythms with contemporary influences and addressing social justice in his music. His legacy as a musical mastermind and community builder lives on through his extensive discography and lasting impact on Latin music.