About
Dominican-American musician and composer known as the Godfather of Salsa. He was a legendary bandleader who co-founded Fania Records in 1964.
Before Fame
He studied percussion at The Juilliard School.
Trivia
He and Jerry Masucci, a former New York City police officer, started Fania with $5,000. They earned the money selling albums in Spanish Harlem from the trunks of their cars.
Family Life
He and his family moved from the Dominican Republic to New York when he was 11 years old. He had a wife named María Elena Pacheco. They had two daughters named Norma and Joanne, and two sons named Elis and Phillip.
Associated With
His label represented artists such as Celia Cruz, Cheo Feliciano, Willie Colón, Rubén Blades and Héctor Lavoe.
