Charlie Palmieri by John Child (John_Child@descarga.com)
PALMIERI Charlie (b Carlos Manuel Palmieri Jr., 21 Nov. '27, NYC; d 12 Sept. '88, NYC) Pianist, bandleader, arranger, composer, A&R man, producer; a fine soloist with emphasis on the melodic in improvisation. From Puerto Rican family, grew up in the Bronx; studied piano at Juilliard; worked '40s-50s with Rafael Muñoz, Xavier Cugat, Tito Puente, Pupi Campo, Johnny Seguí, Tito Rodríguez, Vicentico Valdés, Pete Terrace; also recorded with Latin jazz group (tracks on Continental '48 featuring Sabú Martínez on conga compiled on Cuban Rhythms By Peruchín And Charlie Palmieri '95 on Caney and again with Easy Does It '58 on Gone, latter incl. Johnny Pacheco playing conga and bongo). He formed Charanga 'La Duboney' late '59 with four violins, Pacheco on flute: Gilberto Valdés had been unsuccessful early '50s with charanga format, but Duboney's debut at a New Year's Eve dance launched a craze: they became so popular that they played several dances a night. 'La Duboney' LP debut was Let's Dance The Charanga! '60 on United Artists (reissued as Echoes Of An Era on West Side Latino), with vocalist Vitín Avilés (b 30 Sept. '24, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico); Pacheco left to form his own group. Switched to Al Santiago's Alegre label for three original and swinging Charanga 'La Duboney' volumes: Pachanga at the Caravana Club , Viva Palmieri and Salsa Na' Ma' Vol. 3 '61-63, as well as contribute tracks to Las Charangas - Pacheco, Palmieri, Fajardo '61.
To celebrate the 17th anniversary of Alegre All Stars '77, ten veterans of the original studio descargas plus Louie Ramírez on vibes, young virtuoso flautist/clarinettist/saxist Bobby Rodríguez and members of his 'up & flying' band La Compañia were assembled under Palmieri's leadership for Perdido (Vol. 5 or 6?) (cuts from this LP and 60s Alegre All Stars sessions were later compiled on Te Invita '92 on Charly); he stayed with Alegre for The Heavyweight '78, with Meñique and Julito Villot sharing lead vocals, and performed and arranged on Vitín Avilés' solo LP Con Mucha Salsa '78; the commendable compilation Gigante Hits '78, selected by Al Santiago from Charlie's '65-75 period with Alegre, marked the end of his return stint with the label. In '79 he was featured in Jeremy Marre's TV film Salsa , teaching in a South Bronx school and playing electric piano with Puente. He went to Puerto Rico early '80, formed successful band but did not record; returned to NYC '83, suffered heart attack and stroke which left him half-paralysed; despite gloomy medical prognosis he recovered, made revered Latin jazz LP A Giant Step '84 on Tropical Budda, reviving Noro Morales' piano and rhythm (bass, timbales, conga, bongo) format. He co-led (with singer/percussionist Jimmy Sabater) Combo Gigante in NYC '86-88 incl. two trumpets, trombone, sax/flute; played piano on El Sabor Del Conjunto Candela/86 on Laslos, led by bongo/güiro player Ralphy Marzan, and on Joe Quijano's The World's Most Exciting Latin Orchestra & Review '88 on Cesta. Made long overdue UK debut June '88 at London's now closed Bass Clef backed by London-based Robin Jones' King Salsa; died from another heart attack three months later.
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