A
brilliant pianist, Eddie
Palmieri was born in 1936 in New York
City at 60 East 112th Street between Madison
and Park. His brother Charlie,
a piano player who Eddie cites as his
main musical influence, was born nine
years earlier.
By
the time Eddie was eleven, his brother
was already playing with Tito
Puente. Eddie began as a timbalero
working with a group featuring two of
his uncles, one a bandleader the other
a conga player. It wasn't long before
Eddie was fronting his own group.
You
can tell a lot about the stature of a
musician by the extent of his dedication
to his art, and by his desire to keep
growing and learning. Eddie has always
characterized this restlessness. He seeks
constantly for new experiences, challenges,
and forums in which to express his feelings
as a composer. Early on, for example,
part of Eddie's signature sound was due
to the use of trombones in his Orchestration,
rather than the more traditional trumpets.
Eddie
has evolved into one of the movers and
shakers of the industry. As such he has
a unique understanding of the key events
in the evolution of Latin music.
