Johnny Pacheco, salsa idol and co-founder of Fania Records, dies at 85 Pacheco was the music director, composer, arranger and producer, overseeing Fania Records genre of music that came to be known as salsa a mixture of Cuban mambo, guaracha and chachachá, Puerto Rican rhythms and Dominican meringue. The Associated Press February 16, 2021 12:13:41 IST Johnny Pacheco was well-known for creating and popularising the genre of salsa music. Image via The Associated Press/ Wilfredo Lee
New York: Salsa idol Johnny Pacheco, who was a co-founder of Fania Records, Eddie Palmieri’s bandmate and backer of music stars such as Rubén Bladés, Willie Colón and Celia Cruz, died on 15 February. He was 85.