Fania All Stars
| Fania All-Stars | |
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Fania All-Stars in Venezuela, 1980
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| Background information | |
| Origin | New York City |
| Genres | Salsa, descarga, bolero |
| Years active | 1968–present |
| Labels | Fania |
| Website | www |
| Members |
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| Past members |
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The Fania All-Stars is a musical group formed in 1968 as a showcase for the musicians on Fania Records, the leading salsa record label of the time.
In 1964, Fania Records was founded in New York City by Jerry Masucci, an Italian-American lawyer with a love for Latin melodies, and Johnny Pacheco, a composer and bandleader, born in the Dominican Republic. Masucci later bought out his partner Pacheco from Fania Entertainment Group Ltd., and was the sole owner for many years until his death in December 1997.
Throughout the early years, Fania used to distribute its records around New York. Eventually success from Pacheco's Cañonaso recording would lead the label to develop its roster. Masucci and Pacheco, now executive negotiator and musical director, respectively, began acquiring musicians such as Bobby Valentín, Larry Harlow and Ray Barretto.
In 1968, Fania Records created a continuously revolving line-up of entertainers known as the Fania All-Stars. They were considered some of the best Latin Music performers in the world at that time. The original lineup consisted of: Band Leaders; Ray Barretto, Joe Bataan, Willie Colon, Larry Harlow, Monguito, Johnny Pacheco, Louie Ramirez, Ralph Robles, Mongo Santamaria, Bobby Valentin, Singers; Hector Lavoe, Adalberto Santiago, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez, Ismael Miranda, Other Musicians; La La, Ray Maldonado, Ralph Marzan, Orestes Vilato, Roberto Rodriguez, Jose Rodriguez, Barry Rogers, and Special Guests; Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Ricardo Ray and Jummy Sabater. They recorded Live At The Red Garter, Volumes 1 and 2 with this original lineup. In 1972 they recorded Fania All-Stars: Live At The Cheetah, Volumes 1 and 2. It exhibited the entire All-Star family performing before a capacity audience in New York's Cheetah Lounge.
Following sell-out concerts in Puerto Rico, Chicago and Panama, the All-Stars embarked on their first appearance at New York's Yankee Stadium on August 24, 1973. The Stars performed before more than 50,000 spectators in a concert that featured Ray Barretto, Willie Colón, Edwin Tito Asencio Ruben Blades, Larry Harlow, Johnny Pacheco, Roberto Roena, Pellin Rodriguez, Bobby Valentín, and Jorge Santana (younger brother of Carlos Santana), Celia Cruz, Héctor Lavoe, Cheo Feliciano, Ismael Miranda, Justo Betancourt, Ismael Quintana, Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez, Bobby Cruz and Santos Colón. Live at Yankee Stadium was included in the second set of 50 recordings in the List of recordings preserved in the United States National Recording Registry, solidifying the All-Stars as "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant."
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