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Carlos Manuel "Charlie" Palmieri (November 21, 1927 – September 12, 1988) was an American
bandleader A bandleader is the leader of a music group such as a dance band, rock or pop band or jazz quartet. The term is most commonly used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhyth ...
and musical director of salsa music. He was known as the "Giant of the Keyboards".


Early years

Palmieri's parents migrated to New York from
Ponce, Puerto Rico Ponce ( , , ) is a city and a Municipalities of Puerto Rico, municipality on the southern coast of Puerto Rico. The most populated city outside the San Juan, Puerto Rico, San Juan metropolitan area, Ponce was founded on August 12, 1692Some publ ...
in 1926, and settled down in the
South Bronx The South Bronx is an area of the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The area comprises neighborhoods in the southern part of the Bronx, such as Concourse, Bronx, Concourse, Mott Haven, Bronx, Mott Haven, Melrose, B ...
where Palmieri was born. As a child, Palmieri taught himself to play the
piano A piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound when its keys are depressed, activating an Action (music), action mechanism where hammers strike String (music), strings. Modern pianos have a row of 88 black and white keys, tuned to a c ...
by ear. He attended the public school system. At age seven, his father enrolled him at The
Juilliard School The Juilliard School ( ) is a Private university, private performing arts music school, conservatory in New York City. Founded by Frank Damrosch as the Institute of Musical Art in 1905, the school later added dance and drama programs and became ...
, where he took piano lessons. By the time Palmieri was 14 years old, he and his five-year-old brother, Eddie, participated in many talent contests, often winning prizes. It was at this time that his godfather introduced him to the music of the
Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
bands, an experience which inspired him to become a musician. In 1943, when still only 16 years old and still in high school, he made his professional debut as a piano player for the Osario Selasie Band. He graduated from high school in 1946, and immediately went to play for various bands. He made his recording debut with the song "Se Va La Rumba" as a member of the Rafael Muñiz Band.


Musical career

In October 1947,
Tito Puente Ernest Anthony Puente Jr. (April 20, 1923 – May 31, 2000), commonly known as Tito Puente, was an American musician, songwriter, bandleader, timbalero, and record producer. He composed dance-oriented mambo and Latin jazz music. He was also k ...
, the musical director of the Fernando Álvarez Band, was impressed with Palmieri and hired him to play for his band at the Copacabana Club; here he played with Puente until 1953 and, during the 1950s, he played with various bands. Besides having played with Tito Puente, he played with Pupi Campo's Band, and worked on
Jack Paar Jack Harold Paar (May 1, 1918 – January 27, 2004) was an American talk show host, writer, radio and television comedian, and film actor. He was the second host of ''The Tonight Show'' from 1957 to 1962. ''Time (magazine), Time'' magazine's ob ...
's CBS daytime television show. Palmieri also formed a couple of bands that performed at the Palladium Ballroom. These were however short-lived because of a lack of work. During this time, he also worked as an accompanist for other bands. Palmieri worked for several years in
Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
, but returned to New York and formed a band called Charanga La Duboney. While performing at the Monte Carlo Ballroom, Palmieri heard Johnny Pacheco playing the
flute The flute is a member of a family of musical instruments in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, producing sound with a vibrating column of air. Flutes produce sound when the player's air flows across an opening. In th ...
- the playing so impressed him that he hired him on the spot. The mixture of Pacheco's flute with the strings of the violins in Palmieri's band led to the 1960s Charanga craze in the United States. Palmieri was signed by the United Artists Record company and had several Latino hits. Palmieri did however suffer various setbacks - first Pacheco left the band and then United Artists cancelled his contract because of a conflict of interest with their other recording star,
Tito Rodríguez Pablo Rodríguez Lozada (January 4, 1923 – February 28, 1973), better known as Tito Rodríguez, was a Puerto Rican singer and bandleader. He started his career singing under the tutelage of his brother, Johnny Rodríguez. In the 1940s, both m ...
. This led to Palmieri's signing with the Alegre Records label and with whom he had two best selling "hits" with "Como Bailan La Pachanga" and "La Pachanga Se Baila Así". When the Charanga craze declined in popularity, Palmieri switched to the new trend, the
boogaloo Boogaloo or bugalú (also: shing-a-ling, Latin boogaloo, Latin R&B) is a music genre, genre of Latin music and dance which was popular in the United States in the 1960s. Boogaloo originated in New York City mainly by stateside Puerto Ricans with ...
, by replacing the flute and violins with three
trumpet The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz musical ensemble, ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest Register (music), register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitche ...
s and two
trombone The trombone (, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the Brass instrument, brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's lips vibrate inside a mouthpiece, causing the Standing wave, air c ...
s, he also dropped the word "Charanga" from his bands' name and it became known simply as "La Duboney". In 1965, he scored a hit with ''Tengo Máquina y Voy a 60'' (''Going like 60'') and in 1967 with ''Hay Que Estar En Algo/Either You Have It or You Don't''. In 1968, Palmieri recorded ''Latin Bugalú'' under the
Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over the course of its first two decades, starting from the release of its first recor ...
label, which was also released in the United Kingdom. In the 1970s, Palmieri worked as the musical director for Tito Puente's television show, ''El Mundo de Tito Puente'' (''Tito Puente's World''). He also taught and lectured about Latin music and culture at various educational institutions. After reorganizing his band, Palmieri played the
organ Organ and organs may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a group of tissues organized to serve a common function * Organ system, a collection of organs that function together to carry out specific functions within the body. Musical instruments ...
and recorded ''La Hija de Lola'' (''Lola's Daughter'') and ''La Vecina'' (''The Neighbor''). In 1971, he provided his organ playing talents to some of his brother's recordings. In 1978, he added the
melodica The melodica is a handheld free-reed instrument similar to a pump organ or harmonica. It features a musical keyboard on top, and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. The keyboard usu ...
to his recording ''The Heavyweight'', an LP recorded for Alegre Records that also featured Bobby Rodríguez on bass, Quique Dávila on timbales, Papiro Allende on congas, Willie Rodríguez on bongoes, Roy Román y Lou Laurita on trumpets, Bobby Nelson on sax, Marco Katz on trombone, Harry Viggiano on tres, and the vocalists Meñique, Julito Villot, and
Adalberto Santiago Adalberto Santiago (born April 23, 1937) is an internationally known salsa singer. Career Born April 23, 1937, in Pozas barrio, Ciales, Puerto Rico, Adalberto's relaxed and flawless lead vocals are among the best in the salsa genre of Latin ...
. Among the artists Palmieri worked with at one time or another were his brother Eddie, Celia Cruz,
Tito Puente Ernest Anthony Puente Jr. (April 20, 1923 – May 31, 2000), commonly known as Tito Puente, was an American musician, songwriter, bandleader, timbalero, and record producer. He composed dance-oriented mambo and Latin jazz music. He was also k ...
, Herbie Mann, Ismael Rivera, Rafael Cortijo, Ismael Quintana, Bobby Capó, Mongo Santamaría,
Cal Tjader Callen Radcliffe Tjader Jr. ( ; July 16, 1925 – May 5, 1982) was an American Latin Jazz musician, often described as the most successful non-Latino Latin music (genre), Latin musician. He explored other jazz idioms, especially small group mod ...
, and
Ray Barretto Raymundo "Ray" Barretto Pagán (April 29, 1929 – February 17, 2006) was an American percussionist and bandleader of Puerto Rican descent. Throughout his career as a percussionist, he played a wide variety of Latin music styles, as well as Lati ...
.


Later years

In 1980, Palmieri moved back to Puerto Rico but returned to New York for business - on one trip there he suffered a massive heart attack and stroke. He soon recovered and returned to the music world as the member of various bands. In June 1988, he debuted in the United Kingdom accompanied by London's Robin "King Salsa" Jones. Palmieri gave private
piano A piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound when its keys are depressed, activating an Action (music), action mechanism where hammers strike String (music), strings. Modern pianos have a row of 88 black and white keys, tuned to a c ...
lessons to students at the Schuylerville Music Center in the Throggs Neck section of the
Bronx The Bronx ( ) is the northernmost of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It shares a land border with Westchester County, New York, West ...
in
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
. During this time he also appeared in the 1988 movie ''Salsa''. Four days before his death, Palmieri gave a private show at
La Fortaleza La Fortaleza ( English: "the fortress"), also known as the ''Palacio de Santa Catalina'' (Saint Catherine's Palace), is the official residence and workplace of the governor of Puerto Rico. Located in the historic quarter of Old San Juan in the ...
in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he performed solo at the piano for the Governor of Puerto Rico (at the time, Rafael Hernández Colón) and his guests. On September 12, 1988, Charlie Palmieri suffered another heart attack upon his arrival at New York where, as the musical director of the Joe Cuba Sextet, he was to arrange a concert. He died later that day at Jacobi Hospital in the
Bronx The Bronx ( ) is the northernmost of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It shares a land border with Westchester County, New York, West ...
.


Tributes

On November 6, 2004, a Big Band Tribute to Charlie Palmieri was held at
Avery Fisher Hall David Geffen Hall is a concert hall at Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. The 2,200-seat auditorium opened in 1962, and is the home of the New York Philharmonic. The facility, designed by Max Abramovitz, was o ...
at the
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (also simply known as Lincoln Center) is a complex of buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It has thirty indoor and outdoor facilities and is host to 5  ...
. The Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts hosts an annual competition for the Charlie Palmieri Memorial Piano Scholarship. The winner of the competition receives a scholarship to study Latin piano music at the Conservatory. The scholarship was started by Palmieri's lifetime friend, the late
Tito Puente Ernest Anthony Puente Jr. (April 20, 1923 – May 31, 2000), commonly known as Tito Puente, was an American musician, songwriter, bandleader, timbalero, and record producer. He composed dance-oriented mambo and Latin jazz music. He was also k ...
. Another notable friend and colleague of Palmieri's, as well as a great admirer, was the late
Clare Fischer Douglas Clare Fischer (October 22, 1928 – January 26, 2012) was an American keyboardist, composer, arranger, and bandleader. After graduating from Michigan State University (from which, five decades later, he would receive an honorary doctorat ...
, who chose to kick off his 1989 album, ''Lembranças (Remembrances)'', with "C.P.", a piece dedicated to the composer's recently departed role model. In Fischer's words:
"C.P. - Charlie Palmieri - is dedicated to the wonderfully exciting pianist whom I have idolized for years! Charlie left us last year and the sadness I felt shows itself in some of the segments interspersed among the more spirited sections. We will miss him!"


Discography

;Albums *''Easy Does It'' (1959)Charlie Palmieri: ''Easy Does It''
. Also
''Easy Does It'' (CD, 2005)
''
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
''. Retrieved 2017-05-07.
*''El Gigante'' (1962) (aka ''Ravel's Bolero in Mambo'') (1995) *''Cuban Rhythms'' (1948) (tracks by Peruchin recorded in 1951) *''Charanga'' (1959) (aka ''Let's Dance the Charanga'') (1960) (featuring Johnny Pacheco) *''Pachanga at the Caravana Club'' (1960) Performed at the Bronx Opera House *''Viva Palmieri'' (1961) *''Salsa Na' Ma', Vol. 3'' (1963) *''Salsa y Charanga'' *''Tengo Máquina y Voy a 60'' (1965) *''Either You Have It Or You Don't'' (1966) *''Hay Que Estar En Algo / Either You Have It Or You Don't'' (1967) *''Latin Bugalú'' (1968) *''Adelante Gigante'' (1973) *''El Gigante del Teclado'' (1974) *''Electro Duro'' (1974) *''Impulsos'' ( Coco Records, 1975) *''Vuelve el Gigante'' (1975) *''The Heavyweight'' (1978) *''Con Salsa y Sabor'' (1977) *''A Giant Step'' (1984) *''Mambo Show'' (1990) (aka The Ensemble of Latin Music Legends) *''Alegre All-Stars Vol. 1'' (1961) *''Alegre All-Stars Vol. 2'' - El Manicero (1964) *''Alegre All-Stars Vol. 3'' - Lost and Found (1965) *''Alegre All-Stars Vol. 4'' - Way Out (1966) *''Alegre All-Stars Vol. 5'' - They Don't Make 'Em Like Us Anymore (1976) *''Alegre All-Stars Vol. 6'' - Perdido/Te Invita (1977) (2008) *''Cesta All Stars Vol. 1'' - (1975) *''Cesta All Stars Vol. 2'' - (1976) ;Contributing artist * '' The Rough Guide to Salsa'' (1997, World Music Network) With
Ray Barretto Raymundo "Ray" Barretto Pagán (April 29, 1929 – February 17, 2006) was an American percussionist and bandleader of Puerto Rican descent. Throughout his career as a percussionist, he played a wide variety of Latin music styles, as well as Lati ...
*''La Cuna'' ( CTI Records, 1979) With
Herbie Mann Herbert Jay Solomon (April 16, 1930 – July 1, 2003), known by his stage name Herbie Mann, was an American jazz Flute, flute player and important early practitioner of world music. Early in his career, he also played tenor saxophone and clarinet ...
*'' The Family of Mann'' (Atlantic, 1961) *'' Latin Mann'' (Columbia, 1965) With
Cal Tjader Callen Radcliffe Tjader Jr. ( ; July 16, 1925 – May 5, 1982) was an American Latin Jazz musician, often described as the most successful non-Latino Latin music (genre), Latin musician. He explored other jazz idioms, especially small group mod ...
*''Primo'' (
Fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures. The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...
, 1973) With Israel "Cachao" López *'' Cachao y Su Descarga '77''' (Salsoul, 1977) With Machito Orchestra *''
Fireworks Fireworks are Explosive, low explosive Pyrotechnics, pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. They are most commonly used in fireworks displays (also called a fireworks show or pyrotechnics), combining a large numbe ...
'' (Coco Records, 1977) With
Tito Puente Ernest Anthony Puente Jr. (April 20, 1923 – May 31, 2000), commonly known as Tito Puente, was an American musician, songwriter, bandleader, timbalero, and record producer. He composed dance-oriented mambo and Latin jazz music. He was also k ...
*'' Para Los Rumberos'' (Tico, 1972) With
Mon Rivera Mon Rivera is the common name given to two distinct Puerto Rican people, Puerto Rican musicians (both born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, Mayagüez), namely Monserrate Rivera Alers (originally nicknamed Rate, later referred to as "Don Mon", or Mon T ...
*'' Que Gente Averigua'' (Alegre, 1963) With Celia Cruz *'' Son Con Guaguanco'' (Tico, 1966) With Tico Alegre All Stars *'' Descargas Live at the Village Gate'' (Tico, 1966) With
Eddie Palmieri Eddie Palmieri (born December 15, 1936) is an American Grammy Award-winning pianist, bandleader, musician, and composer of Corsican and Puerto Rican ancestry. He is the founder of the bands La Perfecta, La Perfecta II, and Harlem River Drive. ...
*''
Harlem River Drive Harlem River Drive is a 4.20-mile (6.76 km) controlled-access highway, controlled-access Parkways in New York, parkway in the New York City borough of Manhattan. It runs along the west bank of the Harlem River from the Triborough Bridge in ...
'' (Rhino, 1971) *'' Vamonos Pal' Monte'' (Tico, 1971) *'' Live at Sing Sing with the Harlem River Drive'' (Tico, 1972) *'' Live in Concert at the University of Puerto Rico'' ( Coco Records, 1973) *'' Lucumi, Macumba, Voodoo'' (Sony, 1978)


See also

*
List of Puerto Ricans This is a list of notable people from Puerto Rico which includes people who were born in Puerto Rico (Borinquen) and people who are of full or partial Puerto Rican people, Puerto Rican descent. Puerto Rican citizens are included, as the governm ...
* Corsican immigration to Puerto Rico *
Eddie Palmieri Eddie Palmieri (born December 15, 1936) is an American Grammy Award-winning pianist, bandleader, musician, and composer of Corsican and Puerto Rican ancestry. He is the founder of the bands La Perfecta, La Perfecta II, and Harlem River Drive. ...


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Palmieri, Charlie 1927 births 1988 deaths American musicians of Puerto Rican descent American male composers American bandleaders American people of Corsican descent 20th-century American composers 20th-century American male musicians Fresh Sounds Records artists People from Morrisania, Bronx