Up Close ^ Personal with Maestro "Eddie Palmieri"

Eddie Palmieri, known for his charismatic power and bold innovative drive, has a musical career that spans over 50 years as a bandleader of Salsa and Latin Jazz orchestras.  With a discography that includes 36 titles, Mr. Palmieri has been awarded nine Grammy Awards.  Born in Spanish Harlem in 1936, Eddie began piano studies at an early age, as did his celebrated older brother, the late Salsa legend and pianist, Charlie Palmieri.  For Latin New Yorkers of Eddie’s generation, music was a vehicle out of El Barrio.  At age 11, he auditioned at Weil Recital Hall, which is next door to Carnegie Hall, a venue as far from the Bronx as he could imagine.  Possessed by a desire to play the drums, Palmieri joined his uncle’s orchestra at age 13, where he played timbales.  Says Palmieri, “By 15, it was good-bye timbales and back to the piano until this day.  I’m a frustrated percussionist, so I take it out on the piano.”