Charlie Palmieri

Charlie Palmieri (November 21, 1927 – September 12, 1988) was a renowned Bandleader and musical director of salsa music. He was known as "The Giant of the Keyboards". Palmieri's parents migrated to New York from Ponce, Puerto Rico in 1926 and settled down in the South Bronx where Palmieri (birth name: Carlos Manuel Palmieri) was born. As a child Palmieri taught himself to play the piano by ear. He went to school in the public school system. At age 7 his father enrolled him at The Juilliard School, where he took piano lessons. By the time Palmieri was 14 years old, he participated in many talent contests where they won many prizes with his 5 year old brother, Eddie. It was at this time that his godfather introduced him to the music of...