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

Biography

edit

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]

Masucci died of aortic aneurysm caused by a heart attack in Buenos Aires, Argentina on December 21, 1997 at age 63. It was reported that he had three daughters, Darlene, Misty and Corinne.[13][4][14]

Discography

edit

Studio albums

edit
  • A Tribute to Tito Rodríguez (Fania, 1976)
  • Latin Connection (Fania, 1981)
  • Social Change (Fania, 1981)
  • Guasasa (Fania, 1989)
  • Ray Barretto ACID (Fania 1968)

Live albums

edit
  • 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)
  • Live at the Cheetah, Vol. 2 (Fania, 1973)
  • 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)

DVDs

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

References

edit
  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.