‘Madman of Salsa’ Eddie Palmieri Dies at 88

Musician and composer Eddie Palmieri, an icon of salsa and Latin music known in the United States as the “Madman of Salsa,” died at the age of 88 on Aug. 6, his family said in a statement.

“Eddie Palmieri, legendary pianist, composer, bandleader, and one of the most influential figures in Latin music history, passed away at his New Jersey residence,” his family wrote in an Instagram post on Aug. 6. “Eddie will live on eternally in our hearts for all time.

“Eddie Palmieri’s legacy goes far beyond accolades. He was a mentor, teacher, and tireless advocate for Latin music and culture. He inspired generations of musicians and moved countless listeners with his artistry, conviction, and unmistakable sound.”

His wife, Iraida Palmieri, whom he called “Mi Luz Mayor” (My Greatest Light), and who was his “inseparable companion and greatest source of strength” for 60 years, died in 2014.

Palmieri was born in Harlem, New York, to Puerto Rican parents Carlos and Isabel Palmieri.

Palmieri was greatly influenced by the music of pianist and composer Charlie Palmieri, his older brother, which shaped his musical career.

According to his biography, the Palmieri brothers helped define the sound of Latin music in New York City.

The New York musician, known as one of the last exponents of the first wave of salsa musicians in New York, influenced the development of Latin jazz and salsa during a career that spanned more than seven decades with a distinctive style on the piano and in his compositions.

In 1961, he founded La Perfecta, a salsa band with which he sought to innovate music with elements of jazz and Cuban rhythms, including trombones instead of trumpets. He was an active participant alongside artists such as Tito Puente and Tito Rodríguez.

The song “Azúcar Pa’ Ti,” recorded by Palmieri in 1965, became a classic and a salsa milestone, reaching thousands of dance floors. The song had such cultural significance in the United States that it was included in the Library of Congress in 2009.

In an essay by Steven Loza that is in the National Register, he wrote about how Palmieri’s music is remembered.

“The lyrics sung in Spanish over a strong dance beat have been embraced by a rapidly growing American population whose Caribbean, Chicano/Mexican, and Central and South American makeup continually enhances the Latin character of the music.”

Palmieri assisted the careers of numerous Puerto Ricans in New York and on the East Coast.

He is also remembered for pioneering the fusion of Latin music with funk and soul through the 1971 album “Harlem River Drive,” which crossed genre boundaries.