Jerry Masucci
Encyclopedia
Jerry Masucci was a co-founder of Fania Records
.
, to parents Urbano and Elvira Masucci. He had a brother named Alex Masucci (born November 11, 1949). Massucci relocated to a home on the Upper East Side
of New York City
, and eventually owned homes in Paris
, Ibiza
, Uruguay
, Havana
and Miami.
Masucci was a high school dropout who earned his high school diploma while serving in the U.S. Navy at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
, during the Korean War
. He became a member of the New York City Police Department
. After attending college at night, Masucci took a leave of absence and attended City College
, where he played halfback with the college football team, and earned a degree in Business Administration, majoring in foreign trade. He graduated first in his class with cum laude honors. He then returned to the Police Department as a plainclothes policeman, and attended New York Law School
during the day. Graduating in 1960 with a Doctor of Law Degree, he resigned from the Police Department and worked in Havana, Cuba as assistant to the Director of Public Relations in the Department of Tourism.
in 1962 when his firm handled Pacheco's divorce. In 1964 Masucci and Pacheco established Fania Records
. 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. Throughout his tenure as an impresario of the Salsa genre, Masucci was reportedly generous, sponsoring lavish parties and buying everyone lunch at rehearsals, while popularizing Salsa among Latin Jazz
listeners. 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.
Massucci became a feature film maker, producing Our Latin Thing, Salsa, Vigilante
, and The Last Fight. He became sole owner of the Fania Records label in 1977, and would own ten other recording companies, as well: Vaya, Cotique, Tico, Alegre, Mardi-Gras, Sonido, Exitos, International, Bronco, and Karen. He was also a part-owner of the "Fame" modeling agency.
Masucci had Pacheco directing stage shows and Harlow directing in the studio. Alex Masucci, Jerry's brother, was at the helm of the New York-based Fania Records for many years. Massucci first produced a concert at Yankee Stadium
. The event, featuring his Fania-All-Stars, was attended by 45,000 people, and was included in the second set of 50 recordings in a list preserved in the National Recording Registry
.
Massucci ventured into the world of boxing
with Don King, with whom he promoted a Heavyweight Championship bout fought between Muhammad Ali
and Jean-Pierre Copuian in Puerto Rico in 1976.
Masucci had shares of Fania Records issued on Friday, 19 December 1997; Fania was going public. Masucci died over the weekend and the shares were never offered.
, Argentina
, in 1997. Masucci had three daughters, Darlene, Misty and Corrine, with three different women: Marlene Masucci, Rachel Ann Butler, and Melissa Gosnel.
On December 21, 1997, Jerry Masucci died in Buenos Aires. His personal assistant, Daniel Amar Siad was with him the weekend he died. Masucci had complained in the weeks before his death of headaches and stomach pains, but did not seek medical advice. On Friday, December 19, he experienced further stomach pains while playing tennis. Two days later he died on the operating table during exploratory surgery. The cause of death was a brain aneurysm. The following week his body was flown to New York for a service at the Frank Campbell Funeral Home; the body was cremated after the service.
Fania Records
Fania Records was a New York based record label founded by Dominican-born composer and bandleader Johnny Pacheco and Italian-American lawyer Jerry Masucci in 1964. The label took its name from an old Cuban song by the singer Reinaldo Bolaño. Fania is known for its promotion of what has become...
.
Early life
Masucci was born October 7, 1934, in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, to parents Urbano and Elvira Masucci. He had a brother named Alex Masucci (born November 11, 1949). Massucci relocated to a home on the Upper East Side
Upper East Side
The Upper East Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, between Central Park and the East River. The Upper East Side lies within an area bounded by 59th Street to 96th Street, and the East River to Fifth Avenue-Central Park...
of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and eventually owned homes in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Ibiza
Ibiza
Ibiza or Eivissa is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea 79 km off the coast of the city of Valencia in Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands or Pityuses. Its largest cities are Ibiza...
, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
and Miami.
Masucci was a high school dropout who earned his high school diploma while serving in the U.S. Navy at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. He became a member of the New York City Police Department
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
. After attending college at night, Masucci took a leave of absence and attended City College
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
, where he played halfback with the college football team, and earned a degree in Business Administration, majoring in foreign trade. He graduated first in his class with cum laude honors. He then returned to the Police Department as a plainclothes policeman, and attended New York Law School
New York Law School
New York Law School is a private law school in the TriBeCa neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City. New York Law School is one of the oldest independent law schools in the United States. The school is located within four blocks of all major courts in Manhattan. In 2011, New York Law School...
during the day. Graduating in 1960 with a Doctor of Law Degree, he resigned from the Police Department and worked in Havana, Cuba as assistant to the Director of Public Relations in the Department of Tourism.
Career
Masucci became a partner in the law firm Pariser & Masucci. Masucci met Johnny PachecoJohnny Pacheco
Johnny Pacheco is a Dominican producer, musician, bandleader, and one of the most influential figures in American salsa music.-Early life:...
in 1962 when his firm handled Pacheco's divorce. In 1964 Masucci and Pacheco established Fania Records
Fania Records
Fania Records was a New York based record label founded by Dominican-born composer and bandleader Johnny Pacheco and Italian-American lawyer Jerry Masucci in 1964. The label took its name from an old Cuban song by the singer Reinaldo Bolaño. Fania is known for its promotion of what has become...
. They started out selling records out of the trunk of cars on the streets of Spanish Harlem
Spanish Harlem
East Harlem, also known as Spanish Harlem and El Barrio, is a section of Harlem in the northeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. East Harlem is one of the largest predominantly Latino communities in New York City. It includes the area formerly known as Italian Harlem, in which...
, signing up young artists, creating new sounds, and eventually having hit records. Throughout his tenure as an impresario of the Salsa genre, Masucci was reportedly generous, sponsoring lavish parties and buying everyone lunch at rehearsals, while popularizing Salsa among Latin Jazz
Latin jazz
Latin jazz is the general term given to jazz with Latin American rhythms.The three main categories of Latin Jazz are Brazilian, Cuban and Puerto Rican:# Brazilian Latin Jazz includes bossa nova...
listeners. 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.
Massucci became a feature film maker, producing Our Latin Thing, Salsa, Vigilante
Vigilante (film)
Vigilante is a 1983 film directed by William Lustig. It stars Robert Forster and Fred Williamson.-Plot:New York City factory worker Eddie Marino is a solid citizen and regular guy, until the day a sadistic street gang brutally assaults his wife and murders his child. But when a corrupt judge sets...
, and The Last Fight. He became sole owner of the Fania Records label in 1977, and would own ten other recording companies, as well: Vaya, Cotique, Tico, Alegre, Mardi-Gras, Sonido, Exitos, International, Bronco, and Karen. He was also a part-owner of the "Fame" modeling agency.
Masucci had Pacheco directing stage shows and Harlow directing in the studio. Alex Masucci, Jerry's brother, was at the helm of the New York-based Fania Records for many years. Massucci first produced a concert at Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
. The event, featuring his Fania-All-Stars, was attended by 45,000 people, and was included in the second set of 50 recordings in a list preserved in the National Recording Registry
National Recording Registry
The National Recording Registry is a list of sound recordings that "are culturally, historically, or aesthetically important, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States." The registry was established by the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, which created the National Recording...
.
Massucci ventured into the world of boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
with Don King, with whom he promoted a Heavyweight Championship bout fought between Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
and Jean-Pierre Copuian in Puerto Rico in 1976.
Masucci had shares of Fania Records issued on Friday, 19 December 1997; Fania was going public. Masucci died over the weekend and the shares were never offered.
Death
Masucci had moved to and died in his home in Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, in 1997. Masucci had three daughters, Darlene, Misty and Corrine, with three different women: Marlene Masucci, Rachel Ann Butler, and Melissa Gosnel.
On December 21, 1997, Jerry Masucci died in Buenos Aires. His personal assistant, Daniel Amar Siad was with him the weekend he died. Masucci had complained in the weeks before his death of headaches and stomach pains, but did not seek medical advice. On Friday, December 19, he experienced further stomach pains while playing tennis. Two days later he died on the operating table during exploratory surgery. The cause of death was a brain aneurysm. The following week his body was flown to New York for a service at the Frank Campbell Funeral Home; the body was cremated after the service.
External links
- Watrous, Peter, "Obituary: Jerry Masucci, 62, International Salsa Promoter", The New York Times, December 24, 1997