Eddie Palmieri, legendary pianist and composer who revolutionized salsa, dies at 88.

Eddie Palmieri, who revolutionized Latin music and contributed greatly to the explosion of salsa in New York, died this Wednesday at the age of 88 in the United States . "The legendary pianist, composer, bandleader, and one of the most influential figures in the history of Latin music passed away at his home in New Jersey on August 6," his family posted on their Instagram account alongside a photo of the artist.

Fania Records, the iconic salsa label, mourned the death of the star, calling him "one of the most innovative and unique artists in the history of music." "We will miss him greatly," it added. The son of Puerto Rican parents, Palmieri was born in New York City's Harlem neighborhood. Brother of pianist Charlie Palmieri, he entered the scene at a very young age. He took piano lessons as a teenager at Carnegie Hall, which he combined with learning the timbales.

He began playing professionally in bands before reaching adulthood, experiencing the New York music scene, including a two-year stint with Puerto Rican musician Tito Rodríguez. In 1961, he founded the band La Perfecta, which redefined salsa with the use of trombones instead of trumpets. Four years later, his "Azúcar Pa' Ti" would become a dance floor hit that decades later would also earn a place in the US Library of Congress collection.

Palmieri is recognized for revolutionizing the sound of Latin jazz and salsa, and for his long career that spanned more than seven decades. In 1975, he became the first Latin artist to win a Grammy for his album "The Sun of Latin Music," which triumphed in the then-new Best Latin Recording category.

Throughout his extensive career, the musician has won eight Grammys, the most recent for "Simpático" in 2006 in the Latin jazz genre, among other honors. Palmieri was one of the first salsa artists to embrace a political tone in his compositions.

In 1969, he released the album "Justicia," whose lyrics address inequality, social justice, and discrimination, and featured vocals by Ismael Quintana and Justo Betancourt. Shortly after, in 1972, he performed at Sing Sing, a prison in New York, before a predominantly Latino and Black audience, according to The Washington Post.

"For all humanity!" Palmieri shouted through a loudspeaker in the prison courtyard, according to the newspaper. He also said there should be "no walls," "no fears," and "only one thing in life: freedom in the years to come." "He was a mentor, teacher, and tireless advocate for Latin music and culture. He inspired generations of musicians and moved countless listeners with his artistry, his conviction, and his unmistakable sound," his account noted. He is survived by five children and four grandchildren. His wife, Iraida Palmieri, passed away in 2014.