The FANIA All-Stars reunite in a Tribute to Johnny Pacheco’s 50th Anniversary.

The Fania All-Stars will reunite to celebrate Johnny Pacheco’s 50th Anniversary in music, on Friday, October 20th, beginning at 8 p.m., at The Theater-Madison Square Garden. The once in a lifetime concert will capture three eras of Latin music: Charanga, Tumbao and Salsa, in which Pacheco has excelled at different times during his incredible musical career. The spectacular production will include the most prolific ensemble in the history of Latin music.

A galaxy of stars of the category of Bobby Valentín, Roberto Roena, Papo Lucca, Ismael Miranda, Adalberto Santiago, Yomo Toro, Nicky Marrero, Eddie Montalvo, Hector “Bomberito” Zarzuela, Pupi Lagarreta, Lepoldo Pineda, Reynaldo Jorge and Jimmy Bosch will relive the Golden Era of Salsa that, led by Johnny Pacheco and the Fania All-Stars took the world by storm almost 40 years ago.

Fania´s lineup will be joined by a world-class group that includes Eddie Zervigon and Jose Fajardo Jr., along with Hector Casanova, Ray Viera and Pacheco’s own “Tumbao Añejo.” In addition, guest artists such as “The Queen of Merengue” Milly Quezada and “The World’s Sonero” Oscar D’Leon guarantee that the tribute will be the musical celebration of a lifetime indeed. A host of other guest artists that are invited to perform will bring Salsa music to new heights.

There was no doubt, the kid born in Santiago de los Caballeros, in the Dominican Republic, was on his way to become one of the most important Latin musicians of all time.

Soon Pacheco was playing the accordion, violin, saxophone and clarinet. To further his education, the precocious lad attended the Julliard School of Music where he studied percussion and soon became one of the best percussionists of the era. Moving into the renowned Xavier Cugat´s Orchestra he became an integral part of the band and further polished his skills under the tutelage of one of the most important band leaders of all time.

His desire to learn took him to a new instrument, the flute, and as a flutist he became one of the best in the ever growing Latin music movement. It was this instrument the one that made him an icon amongst Latin music lovers.

With the Fania All-Stars, Pacheco found his mark and became the sun of the Latin music universe. His pioneering spirit made him a respected band leader and his partnership with Jerry Masucci brought Salsa to every corner of the planet.

As co-founder of FANIA Records, Johnny Pacheco launched the careers of many of the young stars that became fixtures on the label, such as Ruben Blades, Hector Lavoe, Cheo Feliciano, Willie Colon, and Pete “El Conde” Rodriguez amongst many others. Furthermore, his capacity as a great musician was instrumental in turning Celia Cruz into “the queen of Salsa.”

The legendary Fania catalog was acquired by Emusica in 2005. The record label has remastered and reissued many of Fania’s original albums and has joined in honoring the musical icon.

“Emusica is proud and honored to be a sponsor of this once in a lifetime celebration of the artist Johnny Pacheco. Pacheco was the heart and soul of the musical direction of Fania. His influence on the creativity and vitality of Latin music from the late 1960s to the 1980s can never be overestimated. Very rarely in the history of music has an artist had this degree of influence on such an extraordinary body of work,” said Emusica’s President, Stuart Livingston.

A true legend, Pacheco has nine Grammy nominations, ten Gold records and numerous awards that have recognized his talent and serve as an everlasting tribute to his creative talent as composer, arranger, bandleader, and producer. In addition, Johnny Pacheco has received many awards for his extraordinary genius.

In November of 1998, he was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame. In 1997, he was the recipient of the Bobby Capo’ Lifetime Achievement Award, awarded by Governor George Pataki. In 1996 the president of the Dominican Republic, Joaquin Balaguer bestowed him with the prestigious Presidential Medal of Honor. In addition, Pacheco was presented with the First International Dominican Artist Award from the distinguished Casandra Awards. In June 1996, Johnny Pacheco was the first Latin music producer to receive the NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences) Governor’s Award in New York City. More so, with over 150 songs that include the unforgettable “Mi Gente”, and other popular tunes like “La Dicha Mia”, “Quitate Tu Pa’ Ponerme Yo”, “Acuyuye”, “El Rey de la Puntualidad”, and Tito Puente’s “El Numero Cien,” Johnny Pacheco has proven his ability as a composer and his talent to please the Salsa dancers.

As a founder of the Fania All-Stars era, Johnny Pacheco has secured a place as one of the most important Latin musicians of all time.