Eddie Palmieri (born December 15, 1936 in New York City) is a pianist and renowned bandleader.

Palmieri's parents emigrated to New York from Ponce, Puerto Rico in 1926 and settled down in Spanish Harlem, a Hispanic ghetto in Manhattan. Eddie was the younger brother of Charlie Palmieri. When he was only 5 years old, he used to accompany his older brother Charlie, together they would enter and participate in many talent contests. Palmieri attended the city's public school system. He was constently exposed to music and loved jazz. He took piano lessons for a while and performed at Carnegie Hall when he was 11 years old. He was influenced by his older brother and was determined to someday form his own band. In 1950, when he was just 14 years old, Palmieri formed his first band. During the 1950s, Palmieri participated in various bands, including Tito Rodriguez's.

In 1962, Palmieri formed the band "La Perfecta", which included trombone player Barry Rogers and singer Ismael Quintana. During that decade, the Charanga was the Latin dance craze. The music to the Charanga required an orchestra with a flute and violins, but Eddie also added a mixture of trumpets and trombones. He also experimented by including a touch of jazz in his recordings. He recorded "Lo Que Traigo Es Sabroso" (What I Bring is Juicy) and "Muñeca" (Doll), before the group disbanded in 1968.

In 1971, Palmieri recorded "Vamonos Pa'l Monte" (Going to the Mountain) with his brother Charlie at the organ. That same year he also recorded "Eddie Palmieri & Friends in Concert, At the University of Puerto Rico". In 1974, Eddie became the first Hispanic to win a Grammy for a Latin production with "The Sun of Latin Music".

In the 1980s, Ismael Quintana returned to the band, which also included Cheo Feliciano. Palmieri won two Grammys for the recordings of "Palo Pa Rumba" and "Solito". He also recorded the album "La Verdad" (The Truth) with salsa singer Tony Vega in 1987. That year Palmieri introduced La India with the production of "Llego La India via Eddie Palmieri" (La India has arrived via Eddie Palmieri). In 1988, he recorded "El Rumbo Del Piano" but, the happiness of his success that year was set back by the sudden passing away of his brother, Charlie Palmieri.

In the 1990s, Palmieri had participated in various concerts and recordings with the Fania All-Stars and the Tico All-Stars. In 2000, Palmieri anounced his retirement from the world of music. However, he recorded "Masterpiece" with Tito Puente and won 2 Grammy's plus he was also named the "Outstanding Producer of the Year" by the National Foundation of Popular Culture. Palmieri had won a total of 7 Grammy Awards in his career.

On November 6, 2004, Palmieri directed a "Big Band Tribute" to his late brother Charlie Palmieri, at the Avery Hall at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

Eddie Palmieri currently continues to be actively involved with music. He formed a new band "La Perfecta II", with whom he recorded the CD "Ritmo Caliente" (Hot Rhythm). On April 30, 2005, "Mi Día Bonito" a tribute to Eddie Palmieri, celebrating his 50 years in the world of music, will take place at the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. The event will include the participation of Lalo Rodriguez, Ismael Quintana, Cheo Feliciano, La India, Herman Olivera, Jerry Medina, Luis Vergara and Wichy Camacho.

See also

• List of famous Puerto Ricans