Gerald "Jerry" Masucci[1] (October 7, 1934 – December 21, 1997) was an American attorney, businessman and was co-founder of Fania Records.
Biography edit
Masucci was born in Brooklyn, New York[2] to Italian immigrant parents Urbano and Elvira Masucci.[3] He was a police officer in New York City before attending, and during law school. In 1960, he graduated from New York Law School as a juris doctor. He then worked for a public relations firm in Cuba, where he became interested in Latin music.[4]
In 1964 in New York City, Masucci, then a divorce attorney, and Johnny Pacheco, a Dominican musician, established Fania Records.[5][6][7][8][9] They started out selling records out of the trunk of cars on the streets of Spanish Harlem, signing up young artists, creating new sounds, and eventually having hit records.[10] Over the next 15 years, Fania Records helped define the sound, culture, and language associated with the salsa genre, a musical movement that arose partly from the unavailability in the United States of music produced in Cuba.[11]
In 1980, he was running Fame, a modeling agency.[12]
Masucci died of aortic aneurysm caused by a heart attack in Buenos Aires, Argentina on December 21, 1997 at age 63. It was reported that he had three daughters, Darlene, Misty and Corinne.[13][4][14]
Discography edit
Studio albums edit
- A Tribute to Tito Rodríguez (Fania, 1976)
- Latin Connection (Fania, 1981)
- Social Change (Fania, 1981)
- Guasasa (Fania, 1989)
- Ray Barretto ACID (Fania 1968)
Live albums edit
- Live at the Red Garter, Vol. 1 (Fania, 1968)
- Live at the Red Garter, Vol. 2 (Fania, 1969)
- Live at the Cheetah, Vol. 1 (Fania, 1972)
- Live at the Cheetah, Vol. 2 (Fania, 1972)
- Live at the Cheetah, Vol. 2 (Fania, 1973)
- Latin-Soul-Rock (Fania, 1974)
- Fania All-Stars (Island, 1975)
- Live in Japan 76 (Fania, 1976)
- Live at Yankee Stadium, Vol. 1 (Fania, 1976)
- Live at Yankee Stadium, Vol. 2 (Fania, 1976)
- Live (Fania, 1978)
- Habana Jam (Fania, 1979)
- Live in Africa (Fania, 1986)
DVDs edit
- Our Latin Thing (Fania 1972)
- Salsa (Fania, 1974)
- In Africa (Fania, 1993)
- Live (Fania, 1995)
References edit
- ^ JON PARELES (2006-10-23). "Johnny Pacheco - music - review - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
- ^ "Celebrating a Salsa Legacy - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
- ^ Cabo, Lelia. "Exclusive: Marc Anthony and Other Salsa Legends Share Memories of Legendary Label Fania Records". Billboard. Billboard.
- ^ a b PETER WATROUS (1997-12-24). "J. Masucci, 62, International Salsa Promoter - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
- ^ "Digital Salsa: The Surprising Rebirth Of Legendary Latin-Music Label Fania Records". Fast Company. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
- ^ Katie Kramer (2015-01-04). "Fania, Latin music powerhouse, dances to new tune in digital era". Cnbc.com. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
- ^ "Seminal Latin Label's Music Resurrected". NPR. 17 July 2006. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
- ^ "Various Artists, 'Fania Records 1964-1980: The Original Sound of Latin New York' (Strut)". Spin. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
- ^ "Spicing up that beat". Los Angeles Times. 15 January 2006. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
- ^ "Fania All-Stars". Billboard. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
- ^ César Miguel Rondón The Book of Salsa: A Chronicle of Urban Music from the Caribbean 2008 - Page 42
- ^ "The Fashion World Is Rocked by Model Wars, Part Two: the Ford Empire Strikes Back". People. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
- ^ "Jerry Masucci, 63, Salsa Music Promoter". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
- ^ "CAA Signs Latin Music Label Fania Records". Billboard. Retrieved 25 August 2015.