Eddie Palmieri: A Man of the People
The virtuosic pianist — and Latin music legend — died this week at age 88. His songs, like “Vámonos Pa’l Monte” and “Harlem River Drive,” live on.
by Jesús Triviño Alarcón
To say Eddie Palmieri was a virtuoso is like saying Superman can fly. The Harlem-born, Bronx-raised boricua didn’t wear a cape, but his talent as a pianist, composer and bandleader saved many a fiesta. According to the NY Times, he died on Wednesday, August 6th, after “an extended illness.” He was 88.
Eddie’s contributions to salsa and Latin jazz were incalculable. His “Vámonos Pa’l Monte,” released in 1971, remains a salsa standard and an ode for all the jibaros (rural folk) from the isle. “Harlem River Drive,” released the same year, still ranks as one of jazz’s most iconic vibes. To put it into context, Palmieri was Latin music’s Billy Joel — a man of the people.
“When Roberto Clemente went into the ocean in Nicaragua, I got the inspiration to write two compositions, ‘Puerto Rico’ and ‘Adoracion,’” he said in a 2017 Tidal video interview, referring to the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Famer who died in a small plane crash in ’72, while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake-ravaged Nicaragua. “When I wrote the lyrics, the beginning of it — because the rest was written by Ismael Quintana, who was my singer — it went ‘isla linda y preciosa con sus aguas benditas / beautiful and precious island with its blessed waters.’ Blessed waters because that’s where he went in to help the people of Nicaragua. But now the people of Puerto Rico are suffering.” His fellow boricuas were lamenting the loss of their sports hero, Clemente.
Now, the entire music world is in mourning because one of its greats is up next on heaven’s marquee.
Eddie is survived by a son (Edward Palmieri II), four daughters (Gabriela, Renee, Eydie, Ileana), four grandchildren and legions of friends and fans who realize that, while Earth just got a little quieter, the jam session up above is really cooking now.
