Johnny Pacheco

Juan Pablo Pacheco Knipping (25 March 1935 – 15 February 2021), known as Johnny Pacheco, was a Dominican musician, arranger, composer, bandleader, and record producer. Born in the Dominican Republic, Pacheco became a leading figure in the New York salsa scene in the 1960s and 1970s as the founder and musical director of Fania Records.

Pacheco was one of the leading exponents of pachanga, a blend of Cuban rhythms and Dominican merengue in the late 1950s. He popularized the use of the term "salsa" and established the Fania All-Stars to showcase the leading artists of the genre, which propelled him to worldwide fame and had an important role in the evolution of Latin music.

Pacheco was a nine-time Grammy nominee and was awarded the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award by the Latin Recording Academy in 2005.

Early life and family Juan Pablo Pacheco Knipping was born on 25 March 1935 in Santiago de los Caballeros, a city in the Dominican Republic. He inherited his passion for music from his father, Rafael Azarías Pacheco, who was the leader and clarinetist of the Orquesta Santa Cecilia. One of the leading Dominican big bands of the 1930s, the Orquesta was the first to record Luis Alberti's merengue "Compadre Pedro Juan". Rafael was the grandson of a Spanish soldier who arrived during the Spanish reannexation of Santo Domingo. His mother, Octavia Knipping Rochet, was the granddaughter of a French colonist, and the great-granddaughter of a German merchant who was married to a Dominican woman born to Spanish colonists.

Pacheco and his family left the Dominican Republic for New York City when he was eleven years old. As a child, he learned to play several instruments including accordion, violin, flute, saxophone and clarinet. He later attended Brooklyn Technical High School, majoring in electrical engineering. He worked in this field for a time, but eventually quit due to low salary levels. He studied percussion at the Juilliard School. From his first marriage, Pacheco had two daughters, Norma and Joanne. From his second marriage, Pacheco had two sons, Philip and Elis, who also excelled in the music business. Pacheco married his long time girlfriend Cuqui in 1984, and they remained together until his passing.

Early music career In 1953, Pacheco played percussion and sang with Gil Suárez's band. In the following year, he co-founded The Chuchulecos Boys with Eddie Palmieri on piano, Barry Rogers on trombone and other future figures of renown in the New York salsa scene: Al Santiago, Mike Collazo and Ray Santos. They played at weddings and other social events. He later played percussion for several bands, including late-night shows, Lou Pérez's band The Mambaleros, and the popular orchestras of Tito Puente, Xavier Cugat and Dioris Valladares.

Pacheco toured throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America in support of the album. Pacheco Y Su Charanga were the first Latin band to headline the Apollo Theater in New York City; they did so in 1962 and 1963.

The band's success led them to record four more albums for Alegre Records (Volumes 2–5). Pachecco also reunited with Charlie Palmieri for two albums: the 1961 jam session The Alegre All-Stars and the collaborative album Las Charangas. However, Al Santiago encountered financial difficulties, influencing Pacheco's decision to exit Alegre Records in 1963.

Pacheco y su Nuevo Tumbao Pacheco reorganized his charanga and transformed it into a conjunto by adding trumpets instead of violins.

In 1965, Pacheco recorded three albums, two of which featured Monguito el Único as lead vocalist: Pacheco at the N.Y. World's Fair and Pacheco Te Invita a Bailar. The third album consisted of instrumental descargas (jam sessions), and was called Pacheco, His Flute and Latin Jam. named after the fact that Pacheco had recently toured the continent. Among the stars featured in the concert were pianist Larry Harlow, bassist Bobby Valentín and conguero Ray Barretto. The lineup of the group varied over the years, and by the time of their second show, Live at the Cheetah (1971), many members had changed.

Pacheco Y Su Tumbao Añejo In 1974, Pacheco replaced El Conde (who went on a successful solo career) with Héctor Casanova and renamed his band Pacheco Y Su Tumbao Añejo ("Pacheco and his old tumbao", as opposed to his previous band "the new tumbao"). Several tracks that he arranged, produced, and/or performed were included on the soundtrack of the 1992 Warner Brothers film, The Mambo Kings.

Pacheco performed in the 1988 AIDS benefit concert "Concierto Por La Vida", held at Avery Fisher Hall. He also collaborated with the Hispanic Federation Relief Fund to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Georges. Pacheco established the Johnny Pacheco Scholarship Fund in 1994 for college students in the New York metropolitan area.

The Johnny Pacheco Latin Music and Jazz Festival is an annual event that is held in mid-November at Lehman College.

Awards and recognition In 1975, Pacheco made history as the first Dominican to be nominated for a Grammy in the Best Latin Recording section for his El Maestro album. Pacheco earned nine Grammy nominations and ten gold records.

In 1998, Pacheco was among the first group of artists inducted into International Latin Music Hall of Fame (ILMHF). The ILMHF awarded him the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002.

In 2004, Pacheco was awarded the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, ASCAP Silver Pen Award.

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.

In 2005, the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences awarded Johnny Pacheco with its Lifetime Achievement Award at that years Latin Grammys.

In 2007, Pacheco was portrayed by Nelson Vasquez in the movie El Cantante, starring Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez.

On March 24, 2009, Pacheco was awarded "El Soberano", the highest distinction given by the Association of Art Columnists of the Dominican Republic.

In August 2020, Johnny Pacheco's composition "Celia y Tito" by Tito Puente and Celia Cruz was featured in the 4th-season finale of the NBC TV network program "World of Dance" which is produced and judged by international film and recording star Jennifer Lopez.

Death A resident of Fort Lee, New Jersey, Pacheco died at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck on 15 February 2021, aged 85, after being admitted to the hospital with pneumonia-related complications. He was funeralized at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in East Harlem.

Discography As leader

Alegre Records Pacheco y su Charanga (Alegre LPA-801, 1961) Pacheco y su Charanga, Vol. 2 (Alegre LPA-805, 1961) Que Suene la Flauta: Pacheco y su Charanga, Vol. 3 (Alegre LPA-811, 1962) 10 Great Years (Fania LP 409, 1972) The Best of Johnny Pacheco (Charly SNAD524CD, 2001) 2-CD

As sideman

With Melanie Gather Me (Neighborhood/Famous Music, 1971) With George Benson Giblet Gravy (Verve, 1968) With Les McCann Les McCann Plays the Hits (Limelight, 1966)

With the Fania All-Stars

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 Habana Jam Live in Africa Live in Japan 1976 Delicate and Jumpy Tribute to Tito Rodríguez Rhythm Machine Spanish Fever Crossover Commitment California Jam Social Change Latin Connection Lo Que Pide La Gente Viva La Charanga The Perfect Blend Bamboleo Guasasa Live 1994, Puerto Rico Bravo Viva Colombia (The Cali Concert) Live in San Juan 1973

Filmography

Our Latin Thing (Fania, 1972) Salsa (Fania, 1974) Celia Cruz and the Fania All Stars In Africa (Fania, 1993) Live (June 11, 1994, Puerto Rico) (Fania, 1995) Soul Power (2008)