Fania All-Stars

The Fania All-Stars is a musical ensemble established in

1968 as a showcase for the musicians on the record label
Fania Records, the leading salsa record company of the
time.[1]

1
1.1

cally signicant.
In 1974, the All Stars performed in Zaire, Africa, at the
80,000-seat Stadu du Hai in Kinshasa. This was captured on lm and released as Live In Africa (Salsa Madness in the UK). This Zairean appearance occurred along
with James Brown and others, at a music festival held in
conjunction with the Muhammad Ali/George Foreman
heavyweight title ght. Footage of the performance was
also included in the 2008 documentary lm Soul Power.[3]

History
Beginnings

In an attempt to attain a wider market for salsa, Fania

made a deal with Columbia Records in the US for a series of crossover albums by the All-Stars. The rst project
was Delicate & Jumpy (1976), in which Steve Winwood
united with the All-Stars Pacheco, Valentin, Barreto and
Roena. The same year the Fania All-Stars made their
sole UK appearance, at Londons Lyceum Ballroom, with
Winwood guesting.

In 1964, Fania Records was founded in New York City

by Jerry Masucci, an Italian-American lawyer with a love
for Latin melodies, and Johnny Pacheco, a composer and
bandleader, born in the Dominican Republic. Masucci
later bought out his partner Pacheco from Fania Entertainment Group Ltd., and was the sole owner for many
years until his death in December 1997.
Throughout the early years, Fania used to distribute its
records around New York. Eventually success from
Pachecos Caonaso recording would lead the label to develop its roster. Masucci and Pacheco, now executive negotiator and musical director, respectively, began acquiring musicians such as Bobby Valentn, Larry Harlow and
Ray Barreto.

1.2

In 1978 the All-Stars released Live, recorded in concert

at New Yorks Madison Square Garden in September of
that year.
In 1979, Fania All-Stars travelled to Havana, Cuba, to
participate in the Havana Jam festival that took place between 24 March, alongside Rita Coolidge, Kris Kristofferson, Stephen Stills, the CBS Jazz All-Stars, Trio of
Doom, Billy Swan, Bonnie Bramlett, Weather Report,
and Billy Joel, plus Cuban artists such as Irakere, Pacho
Alonso, Tata Gines and Orquesta Aragn. Their performance is captured on Ernesto Juan Castellanos's documentary Havana Jam '79. That same year saw the release
of Crossover, the All-Stars last Columbia Records album,
as well as Havana Jam on Fania, which came from a concert recorded in Havana on March 2.[4]

Success

In 1968, Fania Records created a continuously revolving

line-up of entertainers known as the Fania All-Stars. In
1971 they recorded Fania All-Stars: Live At The Cheetah,
Volumes 1 and 2. It exhibited the entire All-Star family performing before a capacity audience in New Yorks
Cheetah Lounge.
Following sell-out concerts in Puerto Rico, Chicago and
Panama, the All-Stars embarked on their rst appearance
at New Yorks Yankee Stadium on August 24, 1973.[2]
The Stars performed before more than 50,000 spectators in a concert that featured Ray Barretto, Willie Coln,
Ruben Blades, Larry Harlow, Johnny Pacheco, Roberto
Roena, Pellin Rodriguez, Bobby Valentn, and Jorge Santana (younger brother of Carlos Santana), Edwin Tito
Asencio, Celia Cruz, Hctor Lavoe, Cheo Feliciano,
Ismael Miranda, Justo Betancourt, Ismael Quintana, Pete
El Conde Rodrguez, Bobby Cruz and Santos Coln.
Live at Yankee Stadium was included in the second set
of 50 recordings in the List of recordings preserved in
the United States National Recording Registry, solidifying the All-Stars as culturally, historically, and aestheti-

1.3 Legacy
In 2008, Cheo Feliciano celebrated his 50 years in the
music industry by hosting a concert at Madison Square
Garden, where Bloomberg declared July 20 Cheo Feliciano Day in New York.
In 2009, an historical documentary, Latin Music USA,
shown on PBS TV, featured an episode on the Fania AllStars, their evolution, career, and later demise.[5] In 2009
as well, the All-Stars returned to the stage, opening Carlos
Santanas world tour in Bogot, Colombia. The presentation caused mixed feelings inside the salsa circle though,
mainly because they were treated as seconds by the concerts organizers.
1

In March 2011, and subsequently in November 2012, a

limited roaster of the All-Stars performed in Lima, Peru.
One thing to note about the 2012 performance is the return of Ruben Blades. Ismael Quintana was not present in
the November 2012 presentation though, as well as Yomo
Toro (Yomo died in Q3 2012). In October 2013, a new,
complete roaster of the All-Stars presented in San Juan
Puerto Rico, celebrating the 40th anniversary of their rst
presentation in San Juan. This roaster included the return
of Orestes Vilato and Luigi Texidor. As well as the participation of Andy Montaez, Cita Rodriguez (Petes daughter) and Willie Coln. This was Cheo Felicianos last presentation with the All-Stars before dying in a car accident
in April 2014, in San Juan. In 2014 the Fania All-Stars
were chosen to receive ASCAP's honorary Latin Heritage
Award.[6] The All-Stars are set to present in Central Park,
New York on August 24 as part of the closing of the 50th
anniversary celebration of the legendary Fania Records
label.

REFERENCES

Live at the Cheetah, Vol. 2 (Fania, 1972)

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)

2.3 DVDs

Discography

2.1

Studio albums

Our Latin Thing (Fania 1972)

Salsa (Fania, 1974)

A Tribute to Tito Rodrguez (Fania, 1976)

In Africa (Fania, 1993)

Delicate and Jumpy (Columbia, 1976)

Live (Fania, 1995)

Rhythm Machine (Columbia, 1977)

Spanish Fever (CBS, 1978)
Cross Over (CBS, 1979)
California Jam (Musica Latina, 1980)
Commitment (FNA, 1980)
Latin Connection (Fania, 1981)
Social Change (Fania, 1981)
Lo Que Pide la Gente (StyllaPhone, 1984)
Viva la Charanga (Sterns, 1986)
Bamboleo (Caliente, 1988)
Latin Jazz Fusion (Charly, 1988)
Guasasa (Fania, 1989)
Bravo 97 (Sony International, 1997)

2.2

Live albums

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)

3 References
[1] Csar Miguel Rondn The Book of Salsa: A Chronicle of
Urban Music from the Caribbean 2008 - Page 42 In this
way, the Fania All Stars were formed as a fusion of the
best bandleaders and singers from seven orchestras, complemented by some individual veteran musicians from the
New York scene.
[2] Gonzalez, Will (2008-09-22). Yankee Stadium elded a
memorable night of music in 1973. ESPN.
[3] Scott, O.A. (2009-07-10). Music and Musicians Still
Echo 35 Years Later. New York Times.
[4] Billboard - 17 March 1979 The Fania All Stars were led
by Johnny Pacheco and their eorts will probably produce an LP which will be released on Fania. according 10
Lundvall The intention is to intersperse as much Cuban
music as possible Thus Irakere, "
[5] Latin Music USA: Chapter 5: Our Latin Thing & the
Fania All-Stars, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) TV
documentary, October 2009.
[6] ASCAP Continues 100th Anniversary Celebration at
22nd Annual ASCAP Latin Music Awards:Event to
Honor Daddy Yankee and Fania All Stars in New York
City on March 18, 2014. ASCAP, February 11, 2014.

External links
Fania All-Stars @ SalsaClasica.com, Biography,
Discography, Lyric and more
Fania All-Stars prole
Fania Records
Toda la Musica de Fania All Stars
Fania All Stars Live in Africa (YouTube)
Fania All-Stars discography at MusicBrainz

5 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

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