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The following history of FANIA is taken directly from the FANIA website.
UPDATE: FANIA was recently sold by emusica. Stay tuned for updates.
Like many American stories, the tale of Fania comes from the boroughs
and inner city barrios of New York City. In the early 60’s young Latin
musicians brought the music from their homelands into the Great Apple
and thus began a great period of musical reinvention and free
cooperation amongst the melting pot of cultures living in the city.
During that time of cultural change, musical life in New York was
exciting and unpredictable. One could visit Greenwich Village and
listen to the topical folk of Bob Dylan, or take that A train to Harlem
and watch James Brown shred his R&B all over the Apollo Theater.
Fania would evolve, out of this diverse and dynamic mix of ideas, into
one of the most influential and beloved Latin musical institutions of
our times.
The new sounds coming from Spanish Harlem and the Bronx were sometimes
rough and dangerous but always real and immediate, like the New York
streets that inspired them. Along the way, Fania artists mixed a
cornucopia of styles that transcended the boundaries of traditional
Latin music and set the path for the genres of salsa, boogalu, Latin
R&B, and afro-Cuban jazz.
Throughout our memorable forty-two year history, Fania has been home to
some of the greatest musicians in the history of 20th century music.
Johnny Pacheco, Larry Harlow, Willie Colón, Héctor Lavoe, Rubén Blades,
and Celia Cruz are just a few of the musical legends that form part of
the proud Fania legacy. To experience the joys and wonders of Fania is
to know the depth and excellence that Latin music has to offer.
How was Fania started?
Fania was founded in New York City in the year 1964 by Italian-American
lawyer Jerry Masucci and the Dominican born composer-bandleader Johnny
Pacheco. Their shared passion for good music and innovation would turn
Fania Records into the ideal birthplace for a new style of Latin music.
Fania got its name from an old Cuban song by the sonero (singer)
Reinaldo Bolaño. A version of the song was included in Fania’s first
record release, the excellent Cañonazo (Cannon Fire, 1964) by Johnny
Pacheco.
During those early years, Fania would take its records to music lovers
throughout New York City, sometimes selling their merchandise out of
the trunks of cars. However, thanks to good word of mouth and the
tremendous success of Fania’s first official recording, Johnny
Pacheco’s Cañonaso, the label would forge ahead and expand its talent
roster. With Masucci acting as the executive negotiator and Pacheco as
the musical director, Fania quickly began to sign-up innovative young
New York City artists such as Larry Harlow, Ray Barretto and Bobby
Valentín.
What is Salsa and what does it have to do with Fania?
Salsa is not just about music; it’s a lifestyle full of passionate
grooves and exotic twists. Whenever someone plays or dances to salsa a
little bit of magic takes place.
The second album released under the Fania imprint was Larry Harlow’s
1965 Heavy Smoking. The record’s modern take on traditional
afro-Caribbean music served as the template for what soon would come to
be known as the Fania Sound.
Encouraged by the public’s positive reaction to the groundbreaking
rhythms offered in the Heavy Smoking album and inspired by the creative
spirit of the late 60’s, Fania musicians began to mix together the
popular sounds of the day with the long-established Caribbean
compositions of the past. This brand new musical stew would lead to the
hard-hitting sounds that have come to be categorized as salsa music.
Salsa stars like Johnny Pacheco, Larry Harlow, Héctor Lavoe, Willie
Colón, Ray Barretto, and Rubén Blades changed the way that people
dressed, talked, and danced. Their music spoke to the hearts of young
Latin men and women that were looking for something new to call their
own.
The Fania music catalog enjoys the honor of documenting the history of
the entire salsa movement and counts with an astounding array of talent
that has never been duplicated. Widely acknowledged as the primary
impulse behind the music style known as salsa; Fania remains the
central destination for salsa lovers and can be heard on dance floors
around the world.
Who are the Fania All Stars?
The Fania All Stars are one of the most beloved and influential groups
in the history of American popular music. Having sold millions of
records and cultivated a fervent following of fans throughout the
world, the legendary Fania All Stars continue to be treasured and
recognized as the quintessential Latin band of all times.
Conceived in New York City in 1968 by the renowned bandleader and Fania
co-founder Johnny Pacheco, the Fania All Stars were a bona fide
super-group with an ever revolving line-up that included all the top
players of the salsa, Latin jazz, Latin soul and boogaloo music scene.
Acclaimed stars such as Willie Colón, Héctor Lavoe, Ray Barretto, and
Rubén Blades are just a few of the heavyweights that have contributed
to the Fania All Stars musical saga.
Celebrated for their star-studded-one of kind performances, the Fania
All Stars music has been lovingly captured in a series of best-selling
live recordings. Chief among those albums is the now legendary set
"Fania All Stars: Live At The Cheetah Vol. 1 and 2". Produced in 1972
by Fania's very own keyboard virtuoso Larry Harlow, the Live At The
Cheetah recordings showcase the full Fania family at the heart of New
York City's jam-packed Cheetah Lounge. Considered by critics and fans
to be the epitome of the Latin sound, the Live At The Cheetah Vol. 1
and Vol.2 albums produced a collection of once in a lifetime classic
reinterpretations of hits like "Quitate Tu" and "Descarga Fania All
Stars".
During their long and illustrious history, the New York City based,
Fania All Stars have taken their incendiary rhythms to every known
corner of the world, and left us with an extraordinary catalog of
unforgettable performances that will seize the hearts and souls of
music lovers for many generations to come.
What music styles is Fania known for?
Fania was never about just one style of music. Although widely known
for its exceptional catalog of salsa, Fania was also active in carrying
the many other varieties present in Latin music. With over 1,300 albums
and more than 40 best selling artists under its roster, Fania has a
treasure throve of musical jewels. Tumbao, clave, Latin jazz, and Latin
R&B are just a few of the sounds to be found in the Fania imprint.
Following the acquisition of the Tico-Alegre music label, Fania
consolidated its position as the leader in tropical music, aggregating
icons like Celia Cruz, Tito Puente and La Lupe to its impressive talent
lineup. Furthermore, Fania artists like the afro-Filipino Joe Bataan
made insteps onto the future with their excursions into Latin R&B.
His songs like Gypsy Woman and Subway Joe sound as fresh today as they
once did 30 years ago. Bataan combined the music he heard in the
streets of his Spanish Harlem neighborhood with the Funky music rhythms
from African-American music, the result would lead to classic albums
such as St. Latin Days Massacre (1972), a futuristic masterpiece that
preceded modern day R&B.
Meanwhile the gifted conga player known as Joe Cuba was busy setting
the charts ablaze; his recording of Bang Bang (1967) was the first to
add English lyrics to salsa music. The Joe Cuba Sextet would ultimately
unite the many influences of New York life and alert English speakers
of this funky and influential style.
The impact of Bataan’s and Cuba’s funky boogalu would also reach
Europe, where their New York street tough sound found its way into the
hearts and dancing-feet of hip music aficionados throughout the
continent. The record Latin Soul Man (1969) by Pete Rodriguez would
blur the line between Latin music and soul music, proving that in the
end great artists make superior music and rules are just there to be
broken. Other artists like Ismael Rivera would find their inspirations
with sounds from the past. Known for his revival of the Puerto Rican
afro-Caribbean music style known as bomba, Ismael Rivera’s music was
living proof that innovation could come from looking back at other
golden eras. Fans of his work have included the reggae legend Bob
Marley and the reggeaton star Tego Calderón.
What’s so special about Fania and the seventies?
The 70’s decade came to represent a golden age for Fania and salsa
music in general. During those years the demand for the sounds of salsa
would reach a fever pitch amongst its clamoring audiences and Fania
musicians like Ray Barretto, Cheo Feliciano and Papo Lucca would
consistently up the ante with new releases that took the genre to new
musical heights.
For many 70’s salsa aficionados the place to dance and be seen was New
York’s glamorous Cheetah Ballroom. During one very special evening in
august 1971, salsa lovers were treated to a historic concert at the
Cheetah featuring the renowned Fania All-Stars. This special event was
lovingly documented in the film Our Latin Thing/Nuestra Cosa, which
includes an earth-shattering version of the classic salsa anthem
Quítate Tu (Get Out of My Way) that still stands to this day as one of
the most brilliant performances and songs of the decade.
Making the most out this new Fania sound was a young Nuyorican
trombonist by the name of Willie Colón. Assisted by gifted singer
Héctor Lavoe, Mr. Colón’s music captured the essence and excitement of
what it was like to be a young streetwise Latino living in New York
City during the 70’s.
Colón’s Fania recordings such as Cosa Nuestra (1970), Crime Pays (1972)
and Lo Mato (To Kill Him, 1973) are full of larger than life tales that
brim with realism and passion. A pioneer in his field, Willie was the
first one to truly modernize the traditional Latin rhythms of clave and
tumbao with contemporary arrangements that appealed to a younger
generation. Fania’s in-house graphic artist Izzy Sanabria designed a
series of album covers that marvelously visualized Mr. Colon’s fashion
and are acknowledged today as true classics of 70’s design.
In 1975 Héctor Lavoe makes his debut as a solo artist with the release of the era defining
La Voz (The Voice). The record would turn Lavoe into a Latin icon, with
songs like the spiritual Todopoderoso (The Almighty) and the Johnny
Pacheco penned Mi Gente (My People) confirming his status as the best
male vocalist of his generation.
No history of Fania or the 70’s however brief would be complete without
mentioning the Rubén Blades and Willie Colón best selling salsa
masterpiece Siembra (Cultivate 1978). A funky mix of progressive
sounds, politics and social commentary, the evergreen Siembra remains
one of the most beloved and influential Latin albums of all time, with
classic cuts like Pedro Navaja and Plastico remaining in constant
rotation in DJ’s playlists throughout the world.
What does the future hold for Fania?
Beyond the 70’s, the Fania All Stars continued to shine playing salsa
for millions of adoring fans around the globe and creating records that
resonated with new generations of music lovers.
The acquisition of Fania Records by the Miami based Emusica in 2005
marks the beginning of a new and exciting era for the legendary label.
Starting in 2006, Emusica will be overseeing the restoration of the
Fania catalog. The re-issues will include original cover designs with
extensive English/Spanish liner notes and for the first time in
history, the music will be available in a completely re-mastered sound
that restores the glory of the Fania sound. Expect many more surprises
and special future announcements because Fania, the label that embodies
the Latin Experience is back!
To find out more about the great many musicians that call Fania their home please visit our Artist section.
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FANIA 