Sad day for the genre of Salsa. Johnny Pacheco has passed away. He died in New Jersey today. He was 85 years old.

Pacheco was born in the Dominican Republic. When he was 11 years old, Pacheco and his family moved to New York. Pacheco studied at the Juilliard School and worked in Latin bands before started his own.

Pacheco started Fania Records in 1964, and signed some of the biggest names in music history. Names like Celia Cruz, Willie Colon, Hector Lavoe, and Ruben Blades. Pacheco worked as a flutist, songwriter, arranger, and leader of the Fania All-Stars, salsa’s first supergroup.

Rest In Peace, Johnny Pacheco! You will be dearly missed!