Jerry Masucci

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Gerald "Jerry" Masucci[1] (October 7, 1934 – December 21, 1997) was an American attorney, businessman and was co-founder of Fania Records.

Biography

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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]

In the 1990s, Masucci spent long periods of time in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he resided for part of the year. In December 1997, he suffered from acute abdominal pain while playing tennis, for which he underwent surgery at a private clinic in Vicente López (Clínica Olivos). During the postoperative period, on Sunday, December 21, following the placement of a nasoenteral tube, he experienced serious complications that culminated in acute respiratory distress syndrome and refractory shock. Despite advanced resuscitation and support maneuvers implemented in the Intensive Care Unit, he died that same afternoon. The following week his remains were transferred to New York and later cremated. It was reported that he had three daughters, Darlene, Misty and Corinne.[13][4][14]

Discography

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Studio albums

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  • Ray Barretto, Acid (Fania, 1968)
  • Fania All Stars, Tribute to Tito Rodríguez (Fania, 1976)
  • Fania All Stars, Latin Connection (Fania, 1981)
  • Fania All Stars, Social Change (Fania, 1981)
  • Fania All Stars, Guasasa (Fania, 1989)

Live albums

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  • 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)
  • Latin–Soul–Rock (Fania, 1974)
  • Fania All Stars (Island, 1975)
  • Live at Yankee Stadium, Vol. 1 (Fania, 1975)
  • Live at Yankee Stadium, Vol. 2 (Fania, 1975)
  • Live in Japan 76 (Fania, 1976)
  • Fania All Stars Live (July 11, 1975, Puerto Rico) (Fania, 1978)
  • Habana Jam (Fania, 1979)
  • Live in Africa (Fania, 1986)

DVDs

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  • Our Latin Thing (Fania, 1972)
  • Salsa (Fania, 1974)
  • In Africa (Fania, 1993)
  • Live (Fania, 1995)

References

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  1. ^ JON PARELES (2006-10-23). "Johnny Pacheco - music - review - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  2. ^ "Celebrating a Salsa Legacy - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  3. ^ Cabo, Lelia. "Exclusive: Marc Anthony and Other Salsa Legends Share Memories of Legendary Label Fania Records". Billboard. Billboard.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "Digital Salsa: The Surprising Rebirth Of Legendary Latin-Music Label Fania Records". Fast Company. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  6. ^ Katie Kramer (2015-01-04). "Fania, Latin music powerhouse, dances to new tune in digital era". Cnbc.com. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  7. ^ "Seminal Latin Label's Music Resurrected". NPR. 17 July 2006. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  8. ^ "Various Artists, 'Fania Records 1964-1980: The Original Sound of Latin New York' (Strut)". Spin. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  9. ^ "Spicing up that beat". Los Angeles Times. 15 January 2006. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  10. ^ "Fania All-Stars". Billboard. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  11. ^ César Miguel Rondón The Book of Salsa: A Chronicle of Urban Music from the Caribbean 2008 - Page 42
  12. ^ "The Fashion World Is Rocked by Model Wars, Part Two: the Ford Empire Strikes Back". People. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  13. ^ "Jerry Masucci, 63, Salsa Music Promoter". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  14. ^ "CAA Signs Latin Music Label Fania Records". Billboard. Retrieved 25 August 2015.