Charlie Palmieri (also known as “The Giant Of the Keyboards”) was born in New York City and was a well-known Bandleader and musical director for salsa music. He is also the brother to Eddie Palmieri.
Palmieri’s parents immigrated from Puerto Rico to New York in 1926. They settled in Spanish Harlem in Manhattan, which is a Hispanic ghetto. Palmieri (born Carlos Manuel Palmieri) learned to play the piano by hearing as a child. While he attended school in the public schools of the city, his father took him to The Juilliard School when he was seven years old. There he learned piano lessons. He was 14 years old when he met his brother Eddie, who was 5 years old. They participated in many talent contests together and won many prizes. His godfather introduced Palmieri to Latin music at that time, which was a turning point in his life.
He made his professional debut in 1943 as a pianist for the Osario Selasie Band, while he was still just 16 years old. In 1946, he graduated high school and began playing in various bands. As a member the Rafael Muniz band, he made his recording debut with “Se Va La Rumba”.
Tito Puente was the musical director for the Fernando Alvarez Band. He was impressed by Palmieri’s playing and hired him to play at his band at Copacabana Club. From October 1947, he played alongside Tito until 1953. During the 1950s, he also played in various bands. He also played with Tito Puente’s Band, and worked with Jack Paar on his CBS daytime television program. Palmieri also founded a few bands that performed at Palladum Ballroom, but these were short-lived due to a lack in work. He also worked as an accompanying musician for other bands during this period.
Palmieri spent several years working in Chicago. He then returned to New York where he formed “Charanga La Duboney”. Palmieri was performing at the Monte Carlo Ballroom when he heard Johnny Pacheco, a young man playing the flute. He was so impressed by his playing that he hired him immediately. The 1960s Charanga craze was born out of the combination of Pacheco’s flute and the strings of Palmieri’s band. United Artists Record signed Palmieri and had many Latino hits. However, Palmieri suffered several setbacks. First Pacheco quit the band, then United Artists terminated his contract due to a conflict of interests with Tito Rodriguez. Palmeiri signed with Alegre Records, and he had two of his best-selling “hits”, “Como Bailan La Pachanga”, and “La Pachanga Se Baila Asi”.
Palmieri changed to the Boogaloo when the Charanga craze waned in popularity. He replaced the flute and violins by three trumpets and two trombones. The band’s name was also changed to “La Duboney” and the word “Charanga”. He had a hit in 1965 with “Tengo Maquina y Voy a sixty” (Going like sixty) and in 1967 with the song “Hay Que Estar En Algo/Either you have it or not”. Palmieri recorded “Latin Bugalu”, which was also released under the Atlantic Records label in 1968.
Palmieri was the musical director of Tito Puente’s 1970s television program “El Mundo de Tito Puente”. Palmieri also lectured and taught Latin music and culture at several educational institutions. After reorganizing his group, Palmieri took up the organ and recorded “La Hija de Lola”, (Lola’s daughter), and “La Vecina,” (The neighbor). He also contributed his organ playing skills to some of his brother’s recordings in 1971. Text contributed by users is available under Creative Commons By–SA License. It may also be available under GNU FDL.