Johnny Pacheco

Johnny Pacheco
Background information
Birth nameJuan Pablo Knipping Pacheco
Born(1935-03-25)25 March 1935
Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
OriginNew York City
Died15 February 2021(2021-02-15) (aged 85)
Teaneck, New Jersey, United States
Genres
Occupations
Instruments
Years active1955–2021
Labels
Formerly of

Juan Pablo Knipping Pacheco (25 March 1935 – 15 February 2021),[1] 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.[2]

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,[3] which propelled him to worldwide fame and had an important role in the evolution of Latin music.[4]

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

  1. ^ "Johnny Pacheco,founder of New York's Latin label Fania, dies aged 85". The Guardian. 16 February 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Interview: A Visit with Maestro Johnny Pacheco". Descarga.com. Archived from the original on 16 September 2000. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  3. ^ "Latin Music USA". PBS. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  4. ^ Rossi, Rosemary (16 February 2021). "Johnny Pacheco, Salsa Music Pioneer, Dies at 85". Yahoo!.