Grammy-winning Latin music pioneer who lived in N.J. dies at 88

Eddie Palmieri, a trailblazing innovator of Latin music, has died at the age of 88.

The legendary musician died Wednesday at his home in Hackensack, according to a statement posted on his Instagram account.

“Eddie Palmieri revolutionized the sound of Latin jazz and salsa across a career that spanned more than seven decades,” the post read. “Known for his thunderous, percussive piano style and bold, genre-defying compositions, he was a fearless innovator who honored his Afro-Caribbean roots while pushing musical boundaries.”

The Harlem native is credited for his influence on Latin salsa and jazz which gained immense popularity throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s.

During that time, Palmieri released a slew of albums with his orchestra, La Perfecta, as they meshed Afro-Caribbean beats and jazz rhythms.

Some of his most notable tunes includes “Café,” “Bilongo,” and “La Malanga,” which feature Palmieri’s unique, highly percussive piano-playing. His style of play often included using body parts like his forearms and elbows to hit keys on the piano.

Palmieri won eight Grammy Awards over the course of his 60-plus year career. In 2009, Palmieri’s hit song “Azúcar Pa’ Ti” was added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry. He was awarded a Jazz Master Fellowship, one of the highest honors in the genre, by the National Endowment for the Humanities in 2013.

Iconic Latin jazz label Fania Records, on which Palmieri released several of his classics, posted a tribute to the music legend Wednesday.

“Today, Fania Records mourns the loss of the legendary Eddie Palmieri, one of the most innovative and unique artists in music history,” the post read. “He will be greatly missed.”

Palmieri is survived by five children and four grandchildren.