Johnny Pacheco

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Pacheco and the second or maternal family name is Knipping.
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!.