Fania All-Stars
Encyclopedia
The Fania All-Stars was a musical ensemble
established in 1968 by the composer
, Johnny Pacheco
, as a showcase for the musicians on the record label
Fania Records
, the leading salsa record company of the time.
, an Italian-American lawyer with a love for Latin melodies, and Johnny Pacheco, a composer and bandleader
, born in the Dominican Republic
. Masucci later bought out his partner Pacheco from Fania Entertainment Group Ltd., and was the sole owner for many years until his death in December 1997.
Throughout the early years, Fania used to distribute its records around New York
. Eventually success from Pacheco's Cañonaso recording would lead the label to develop its roster. Masucci and Pacheco, now executive negotiator and musical director, respectively, began acquiring musicians such as Bobby Valentín
, Larry Harlow and Ray Barreto.
Following sell-out concerts in Puerto Rico, Chicago and Panama, the All-Stars embarked on their first appearance at New York's Yankee Stadium
on August 24, 1973. The Stars performed before 63,000 spectators in a concert that performed by Ray Barretto
, Willie Colón
, Ruben Blades
, Larry Harlow, Johnny Pacheco, Roberto Roena
, Bobby Valentín, and Jorge Santana
(younger brother of Carlos Santana
), amongst others. When the All-Stars returned to Yankee Stadium in 1975, they included Celia Cruz
, Héctor Lavoe
, Cheo Feliciano
, Ismael Miranda
, Justo Betancourt
, Ismael Quintana
, Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez, Bobby Cruz
and Santos Colón
. That year, Live at Yankee Stadium was included in the second set of 50 recordings in the List of recordings preserved in the United States National Recording Registry, solidifying the All-Stars as "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant."
Just a few months before, in 1974, the All Stars had performed in Zaire
, Africa, at the 80,000-seat Stadu du Hai in Kinshasa. This was captured on film and released as Live In Africa (Salsa Madness in the UK). This Zairean appearance occurred along with James Brown
and others, at a music festival held in conjunction with the Muhammed Ali/George Foreman
heavyweight title fight. Footage of the performance was also included in the 2008 documentary film
Soul Power
.
In an attempt to attain a wider market for salsa, Fania made a deal with Columbia Records
in the US for a series of crossover albums by the All-Stars. The first project was Delicate & Jumpy (1976), in which Steve Winwood
united with the All-Stars' Pacheco, Valentin, Barreto and Roena. The same year the Fania All-Stars made their sole UK appearance, at London's Lyceum Ballroom, with Winwood guesting.
In 1978 the All-Stars released Live, recorded in concert at New York's Madison Square Garden
in September of that year.
In 1979, Fania All-Stars travelled to Havana
, Cuba
, to participate in the Havana Jam
festival that took place between 2–4 March, alongside Rita Coolidge
, Kris Kristofferson
, Stephen Stills
, the CBS Jazz All-Stars, Trio of Doom
, Billy Swan
, Bonnie Bramlett
, Weather Report
, and Billy Joel
, plus Cuban artists such as Irakere
, Pacho Alonso
, Tata Güines
and Orquesta Aragón
. Their performance is captured on Ernesto Juan Castellanos
's documentary Havana Jam '79
. That same year saw the release of Crossover, the All-Stars' last Columbia Records album, as well as Havana Jam on Fania, which came from a concert recorded in Havana on March 2.
and Marc Anthony
. Cruz continued making hits until her death in 2003. Colon continued producing hits with Rubén Blades
and as a solo artist. His latest album was released in 2007, and he currently works for Mayor Michael Bloomberg
of New York City.
In 2008, Cheo Feliciano celebrated his 50 years in the music industry by hosting a concert at Madison Square Garden, where Bloomberg declared July 20 "Cheo Feliciano Day" in New York.
In 2009, an historical documentary, Latin Music USA, shown on PBS
TV, featured an episode on the Fania All-Stars, their evolution, career, and later demise.
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
established in 1968 by the composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, Johnny Pacheco
Johnny Pacheco
Johnny Pacheco is a Dominican producer, musician, bandleader, and one of the most influential figures in American salsa music.-Early life:...
, as a showcase for the musicians on the record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Fania Records
Fania Records
Fania Records was a New York based record label founded by Dominican-born composer and bandleader Johnny Pacheco and Italian-American lawyer Jerry Masucci in 1964. The label took its name from an old Cuban song by the singer Reinaldo Bolaño. Fania is known for its promotion of what has become...
, the leading salsa record company of the time.
Beginnings
In 1964, Fania Records was founded in New York City by Jerry MasucciJerry Masucci
Jerry Masucci was a co-founder of Fania Records.-Early life:Masucci was born October 7, 1934, in Brooklyn, to parents Urbano and Elvira Masucci. He had a brother named Alex Masucci...
, an Italian-American lawyer with a love for Latin melodies, and Johnny Pacheco, a composer and bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
, born in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. Masucci later bought out his partner Pacheco from Fania Entertainment Group Ltd., and was the sole owner for many years until his death in December 1997.
Throughout the early years, Fania used to distribute its records around New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Eventually success from Pacheco's Cañonaso recording would lead the label to develop its roster. Masucci and Pacheco, now executive negotiator and musical director, respectively, began acquiring musicians such as Bobby Valentín
Bobby Valentin
Bobby Valentin, also known as "El Rey del Bajo" , is a musician and salsa bandleader.-Early years:...
, Larry Harlow and Ray Barreto.
Success
In 1968, Fania Records created a continuously revolving line-up of entertainers known as the Fania All-Stars. In 1971 they recorded Fania All-Stars: Live At The Cheetah, Volumes 1 and 2. It exhibited the entire All-Star family performing before a capacity audience in New York's Cheetah Lounge.Following sell-out concerts in Puerto Rico, Chicago and Panama, the All-Stars embarked on their first appearance at New York's Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
on August 24, 1973. The Stars performed before 63,000 spectators in a concert that performed by Ray Barretto
Ray Barretto
Ray Barretto was a Grammy Award-winning Puerto Rican jazz musician.-Early years:Barretto was born in New York City of Puerto Rican descent...
, Willie Colón
Willie Colón
William Anthony Colón is a Nuyorican salsa musician. Primarily a trombonist, Colón also sings, writes, produces and acts. He is also involved in municipal politics in New York City.-Early years:...
, Ruben Blades
Rubén Blades
Rubén Blades Bellido de Luna is a Panamanian salsa singer, songwriter, lawyer, actor, Latin jazz musician, and politician, performing musically most often in the Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz genres...
, Larry Harlow, Johnny Pacheco, Roberto Roena
Roberto Roena
Roberto Roena is a salsa music percussionist, orchestra leader, and dancer. Roena was one of the original members of El Gran Combo Puerto Rican's first successful salsa music orchestra. He later became the leader of his own band, "Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound", arguably one of the best Latin...
, Bobby Valentín, and Jorge Santana
Jorge Santana
Jorge Santana is a Mexican guitarist, brother of musician Carlos Santana.He was a former member of Malo who had a top twenty hit "Suavecito" in 1972....
(younger brother of Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana
Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
), amongst others. When the All-Stars returned to Yankee Stadium in 1975, they included Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz was a Cuban-American salsa singer, and was one of the most successful Salsa performers of the 20th century, having earned twenty-three gold albums...
, Héctor Lavoe
Héctor Lavoe
Héctor Juan Pérez Martínez , better known as Héctor Lavoe, was a Puerto Rican salsa singer. Lavoe was born and raised in the Machuelito sector of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Early in his life, he attended a local music school and developed an interest inspired by Jesús Sánchez Erazo. He moved to New York...
, Cheo Feliciano
Cheo Feliciano
José Feliciano, better known as Cheo Feliciano , is a composer and singer of salsa and bolero music.-Early years:...
, Ismael Miranda
Ismael Miranda
Ismael Miranda a.k.a. El niño bonito de la Salsa is a composer and a singer of salsa music.-Early years:...
, Justo Betancourt
Justo Betancourt
Justo Betancourt is a Cuban singer famous for his interpretation of Pa' bravo yo. He was born in Matanzas, but has lived a significant amount of time in the United States and Puerto Rico. His music shows Cuban influence but developed in the direction of Puerto-Rican Salsa...
, Ismael Quintana
Ismael Quintana
Ismael Quintana is a singer and composer of salsa music.-Early years:Quintana was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico. His family moved to the Bronx sector of New York when he was only two weeks old; here he went to school and whilst he was still in high school he formed a band with his neighborhood...
, Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez, Bobby Cruz
Bobby Cruz
Bobby Cruz is a salsa singer and religious minister. He is well known for his success beginning in 1965 as part of the duo Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz. His seminal professional pairing with Richie Ray is one of the longest-lived partnerships in Latino music, lasting over 45 years...
and Santos Colón
Santos Colon
Ángel Santos Colón Vega , aka Santitos Colón, was a Puerto Rican salsa music singer and crooner, born in Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico and raised in Mayagüez. He was also known with a moniker: "The Man with The Golden Voice".- Youth and Early Career :Colón was born in Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico, but...
. That year, Live at Yankee Stadium was included in the second set of 50 recordings in the List of recordings preserved in the United States National Recording Registry, solidifying the All-Stars as "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant."
Just a few months before, in 1974, the All Stars had performed in Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
, Africa, at the 80,000-seat Stadu du Hai in Kinshasa. This was captured on film and released as Live In Africa (Salsa Madness in the UK). This Zairean appearance occurred along with James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
and others, at a music festival held in conjunction with the Muhammed Ali/George Foreman
George Foreman
George Edward Foreman is an American two-time former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Olympic gold medalist, ordained Baptist minister, author and successful entrepreneur...
heavyweight title fight. Footage of the performance was also included in the 2008 documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
Soul Power
Soul Power (film)
Soul Power is a 2008 documentary film directed by Jeff Levy-Hinte about the Zaire 74 music festival which accompanied the Rumble in the Jungle heavyweight boxing championship match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in October 1974....
.
In an attempt to attain a wider market for salsa, Fania made a deal with Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in the US for a series of crossover albums by the All-Stars. The first project was Delicate & Jumpy (1976), in which Steve Winwood
Steve Winwood
Stephen Lawrence "Steve" Winwood is an English international recording artist whose career spans nearly 50 years. He is a songwriter and a musician whose genres include soul music , R&B, rock, blues-rock, pop-rock, and jazz...
united with the All-Stars' Pacheco, Valentin, Barreto and Roena. The same year the Fania All-Stars made their sole UK appearance, at London's Lyceum Ballroom, with Winwood guesting.
In 1978 the All-Stars released Live, recorded in concert at New York's Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in September of that year.
In 1979, Fania All-Stars travelled to Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, to participate in the Havana Jam
Havana Jam
Havana Jam was a three-day music festival that took place at the Karl Marx Theater, in Havana, Cuba, on 2-4 March, 1979. It was sponsored by Bruce Lundvall, the president of Columbia Records, Jerry Masucci, the president of Fania Records, and the Cuban Ministry of Culture.The festival included, on...
festival that took place between 2–4 March, alongside Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge is a multiple Grammy Award-winning American vocalist. During the 1970s and 1980s, she charted hits on Billboard's Pop, Country, Adult Contemporary and Jazz charts.-Career:...
, Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson
Kristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"...
, Stephen Stills
Stephen Stills
Stephen Arthur Stills is an American guitarist and singer/songwriter best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash . He has performed on a professional level in several other bands as well as maintaining a solo career at the same time...
, the CBS Jazz All-Stars, Trio of Doom
Trio of Doom
The Trio of Doom was a short-lived jazz fusion power trio consisting of John McLaughlin on guitar, Jaco Pastorius on bass, and Tony Williams on drums...
, Billy Swan
Billy Swan
Billy Lance Swan is an American songwriter and singer, best known for his 1974 single, "I Can Help".-Life:Swan was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. As a child, he learned drums, piano and guitar, and began writing songs...
, Bonnie Bramlett
Bonnie Bramlett
Bonnie Bramlett is an American singer and sometime actress known for her distinctive vocals in rock and pop music. This began in the mid 1960s as a backing singer, forming the husband-and-wife team of Delaney & Bonnie, and continuing to the present day as a solo artist.-Life and career:Bramlett...
, Weather Report
Weather Report
Weather Report was an American jazz-rock band of the 1970s and early 1980s. The band was co-led by the Austrian-born keyboard player Joe Zawinul and the American saxophonist Wayne Shorter...
, and Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
, plus Cuban artists such as Irakere
Irakere
Irakere is a Cuban band founded by Armando de Sequeira Romeu Music Director and composer, and by pianist Chucho Valdés in 1973...
, Pacho Alonso
Pacho Alonso
Pacho Alonso was a Cuban singer and bandleader from Santiago de Cuba who is attributed with creating the musical form Pilón....
, Tata Güines
Tata Güines
Tata Güines was a Cuban percussionist on the tumbadora, or conga drum, as well as a composer. He was important in the first generation of Afro-Cuban jazz....
and Orquesta Aragón
Orquesta Aragón
Orquesta Aragón was formed on 30 September 1939, by Orestes Aragón Cantero in Cienfuegos, Cuba. The band originally had the name Ritmica 39, then Ritmica Aragón before settling on its final form. Though they did not create the Cha-cha-cha, they were arguably the best charanga in Cuba during 1950s...
. Their performance is captured on Ernesto Juan Castellanos
Ernesto Juan Castellanos
Ernesto Juan Castellanos, born in 1963, is a freelance author, translator, journalist, filmmaker and researcher who lives and works in Havana, Cuba. In 1996, he started organizing the Cuban Beatles conventions, which opened doors to the world of writing...
's documentary Havana Jam '79
Havana Jam '79
Havana Jam ’79 is an hour-long documentary written, produced and directed in 2009 by Cuban author, journalist and filmmaker Ernesto Juan Castellanos....
. That same year saw the release of Crossover, the All-Stars' last Columbia Records album, as well as Havana Jam on Fania, which came from a concert recorded in Havana on March 2.
Legacy
Although the Fania-All Stars reached a low during the late 1980s, many of the members continued to have solo careers. Most notable was Lavoe, and in 2007, two films about Lavoe were released, including one produced by Jennifer LopezJennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
and Marc Anthony
Marc Anthony
Marc Anthony is an American singer-songwriter, actor and producer. Anthony is the top selling tropical salsa artist of all time. The two-time Grammy and three-time Latin Grammy–winner has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. He is best known for his Latin salsa numbers and ballads...
. Cruz continued making hits until her death in 2003. Colon continued producing hits with Rubén Blades
Rubén Blades
Rubén Blades Bellido de Luna is a Panamanian salsa singer, songwriter, lawyer, actor, Latin jazz musician, and politician, performing musically most often in the Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz genres...
and as a solo artist. His latest album was released in 2007, and he currently works for Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
of New York City.
In 2008, Cheo Feliciano celebrated his 50 years in the music industry by hosting a concert at Madison Square Garden, where Bloomberg declared July 20 "Cheo Feliciano Day" in New York.
In 2009, an historical documentary, Latin Music USA, shown on PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
TV, featured an episode on the Fania All-Stars, their evolution, career, and later demise.
Studio albums
- A Tribute to Tito Rodríguez (Fania, 1976)
- Delicate and Jumpy (Columbia, 1976)
- Rhythm Machine (Columbia, 1977)
- Spanish Fever (CBS, 1978)
- Cross Over (CBS, 1979)
- California Jam (Musica Latina, 1980)
- Commitment (FNA, 1980)
- Latin Connection (Fania, 1981)
- Social Change (Fania, 1981)
- Lo que pide la gente (StyllaPhone, 1984)
- Viva la charanga (Sterns, 1986)
- Bamboleo (Caliente, 1988)
- Latin Jazz Fusion (Charly, 1988)
- Guasasa (Fania, 1989)
- Bravo 97 (Sony International, 1997)
Live albums
- Live at the Red Garter, Vol. 1 (Fania, 1968)
- Live at the Red Garter, Vol. 2 (Fania, 1969)
- Live at the Cheetah, Vol. 1 (Fania, 1972)
- Live at the Cheetah, Vol. 2 (Fania, 1972)
- Live at the Cheetah, Vol. 2 (Fania, 1973)
- Latin-Soul-Rock (Fania, 1974)
- Fania All-Stars (Island, 1975)
- Live at Yankee Stadium, Vol. 1 (Fania, 1976)
- Live at Yankee Stadium, Vol. 2 (Fania, 1976)
- Live (Fania, 1978)
- Habana Jam (Fania, 1979)
- Fania All-Stars in Japan (Fania, 1986)
- Live in Africa (Fania, 1986)
DVDs
- Our Latin Thing
- Salsa (Fania, 1974)
- In Africa (Fania, 1993)
- Live (Fania, 1995)