Legendary pianist and jazz musician Eddie Palmieri has died in the USA

Pianist, composer and conductor Eddie Palmieri - the first Latin American to be awarded a Grammy - has died at the age of 89. This was reported by The Guardian, citing a statement from the music label Fania Records.

The artist died at his home in New Jersey after a prolonged illness.

Palmieri was born in Spanish Harlem (New York) in 1936, where music was considered one of the few ways to escape the ghetto. Initially, he studied piano, like his brother Charlie Palmieri, but in his teenage years became fascinated with percussion - at 13, he began playing timbales in his uncle's orchestra. Later he returned to the piano, calling himself a "frustrated drummer".

In 1961, Palmieri founded the group La Perfecta, replacing trumpets with trombones, which revolutionized Latin American music. His experiments with salsa, jazz, and funk brought him worldwide recognition. He collaborated with outstanding artists such as Tito Puente. Their joint album Masterpiece (2000) won two Grammy Awards. Palmieri also played a key role in establishing the "Latin Jazz" category at the Grammy Awards.

Throughout his career, the musician received eight Grammy Awards and released about 40 albums, significantly influencing the development of the Latin American music scene. His innovative approach changed the sound of rumba and Latin jazz. He won his first Grammy in 1975 for the album The Sun of Latin Music. Even at 80, he continued to write music, and during the coronavirus pandemic, he gave online concerts.