Johnny Pacheco, the musician who forged the careers of several artists | Music | Entertainment

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Pacheco and his Charanga were the first Latin orchestra which became the main attraction of the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem in 1962 and 1963. At the end of 1963, his career took a historic turn when, together with the Italian-American lawyer Jerry Massucci, he founded the record company Fania Records, which for decades has brought together to the most important Latin musicians of the moment.

In 1964, the label released its first production, entitled Cañonazo. As a company executive, creative director, and music producer, Pacheco was responsible for starting the careers of many of the stars who were part of the Fania record company, including Héctor Lavoe, Ray Barretto, Bobby Valentín and Rubén Blades.

Another historic moment in his life took place in 1968, when he brought together all the label’s musicians and presented them at the same time during a concert, which marked the birth of the legendary group Las Estrellas de la Fania, an unforgettable era that changed the history of tropical music.

For several decades, Johnny Pacheco was one of the most sought-after artists in the music industry and played alongside Latin musicians such as Dámaso Pérez Prado, Xavier Cougat, Tito Rodríguez, Tito Puente and Celia Cruz, among others.

In addition, the salsero performed as a guest artist with many legends of jazz and popular music from the United States such as Quincy Jones, Stan Kenton, Tony Bennet, George Benson, Sammy Davis Jr., Ethel Smith and Steve Wonder, they are some of the North American singers who shared the stage with Pacheco.

His resume also includes the production of the song “Bailando Salsa” by the Spanish group Mecano (it reached half a million copies sold in a month after its release).

His nine Grammy Award nominations, ten gold records, and numerous awards and honors pay tribute to his creativity as a flutist, songwriter, arranger, bandleader, and producer, and make him a Latin music legend.

In 1998, he was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame.

While building a successful musical career, Johnny Pacheco produced several films that have helped popularize Latin music internationally, including “Los Reyes del Mambo” (1992), starring Spanish actor Antonio Banderas.

In addition, in 1999, he brought his musical knowledge to the theater, and collaborated in the creation of the musical Who Killed Héctor Lavoe, which was very successful in New York.

Throughout his life Johnny Pacheco was characterized by his commitment to the development of the Latino community around the world. In 1994 he established the Scholarship that bears his name and with which each year he helps financially a Latino student in his first year of university.

In addition, Pacheco was always open to participate in all kinds of solidarity and charitable initiatives, such as the Concert for Life, held in 1988 in New York to raise funds in the fight against AIDS. (I)

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