Charlie Palmieri was a renowned bandleader and pianist who rose to prominence
during the 1960s as one of a small group of artists who promoted Latino dance
music crazes such as Charanga and Boogaloo to American audiences.
He was of Puerto Rican origin but was born and raised in the Bronx where he
studied music at the famous Juilliard School. His first major break came at the
age of 20 when he was hired by the bandleader Tito Puente to perform at the
Copacabana nightclub where he subsequently held a residency for six years.
During the 1960s Palmieri played for numerous Latin...