Johnny Pacheco

After moving to New York in the late 40’s, Johnny Pacheco learned to play the sax, percussion and flute in high school. In September 1959, he left Charlie Palmieri’s flute and string band to form his own band.

With his first recording, "Pacheco y su Charanga", released by Alegre Records in 1961, Pacheco changed the sound of music throughout Latin America which took him to the "Pachanga" (a very active dance) era which withered in 1964. Pacheco and lawyer Gerald "Jerry" Masucci founded the Fania label in 1964 and with their first album, LP #325 (Pacheco’s birthday) they gave the first step toward the yet unborn salsa era in New York City.

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