Grammy award-winning keyboardist and bandleader Eddie Palmieri has died aged 88 after an ‘extended illness’ as his family confirmed the sad news.
Award-winning keyboardist Eddie Palmieri has died aged 88. His death has been confirmed by his daughter, who revealed he died following an “extended illness”.
The musician, who was a trailblazer in the rumba and Latin jazz genres, enjoyed a illustrious career which spanned 70 years and saw him win eight Grammy Awards.
Eddie died at his home in New Jersey on Wednesday. He became the first Latino to win a Grammy Award in 1975 and went on to have an impressive career.
The musician was dubbed the “Madman of Salsa”. Eddie saw his career reach new heights in the 1980s when he was regarded as a global ambassador for Latin Jazz, having toured the world.
The albums Palo pa’ rumba (1984) and Solito (1985) won the musician two more Grammy Awards as Eddie, from New York City, pioneered the genres.
Founder of the bands La Perfecta, La Perfecta II, and Harlem River Drive, he continued to make music and entertain into his 80s, and determinedly performed through the coronavirus pandemic via livestreams.
In a 2011 interview, when asked if he had anything important left to do, the humble star responded: “Learning to play the piano well. … Being a piano player is one thing. Being a pianist is another.”
Fania Records also confirmed Eddie’s death as they described the pianist, composer and bandleader as a music legend. Recalling his early days, the agent said Eddie learned to play both the piano and the timbale drums in his teens.
This is a breaking showbiz news story. Join The Mirror’s WhatsApp Community or follow us on Google News , Flipboard , Apple News, TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads – or visit The Mirror homepage.