School of Rock
Random article All articles A–Z
2 languages

Johnny Pacheco

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Johnny Pacheco (1935 to 2021), whose full name was Juan Pablo Pacheco Knipping, was a Dominican musician, arranger, composer, bandleader and producer. He was born in Santiago de los Caballeros. His father led, and played clarinet in, the orchestra Santa Cecilia, one of the most important Dominican big bands of the 1930s. When he was eleven the family moved to New York. He learned accordion, violin, flute, saxophone and clarinet, studied electrical engineering at Brooklyn Technical High School and later percussion at Juilliard.

Music and breakthrough

In the 1950s he played percussion for Tito Puente and Xavier Cugat, among others. In 1954 he founded the Chuchulecos Boys with Eddie Palmieri and others. In 1959 he formed the charanga La Duboney with the pianist Charlie Palmieri, in which he played flute. He found Palmieri's style too refined and less marketable, and he opted for simpler arrangements based on son. He became a leading figure of the pachanga, a mixture of Cuban rhythms and Dominican merengue. Albums such as Mi nuevo tumbao... Cañonazo from 1964 and Pacheco te invitar a bailar from 1965 let you hear that period.

Influence

Pacheco founded Fania Records and was its musical director. He popularised the term salsa and set up the Fania All-Stars, a supergroup that showcased the best artists of the genre and brought him worldwide fame. In doing so he played a major role in the development of Latin American music. He was nominated for a Grammy nine times and in 2005 received the Latin Grammy for his lifetime achievement.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to a Pacheco track from the 1960s, such as Mi nuevo tumbao, and notice the flute and the percussion, which together set down a danceable rhythm.

Discography

Studio albums

Mentioned in other articles

Categories: ArtistsSalsa