Louie Ramirez
Encyclopedia
Louie Ramirez was a boogaloo
, salsa
and latin jazz
percussionist, vibraphonist, band leader and composer. He was born on February 24, 1938 in New York City
. He died on June 7, 1993. He co-wrote with Johnny Pacheco
the 1961 hit, El Güiro De Macorina. He has been called "the Quincy Jones
of Salsa."
He made his professional debut with Joe Loco's band in 1956, replacing vibraphonist Pete Terrace. He made his own debut as a bandleader in 1963, with Introducing Louie Ramirez (Rmo Records). He subsequently recorded for Alegre
, Fania
, Atco
, United Artists Records
, Caiman and FNA.
He partnered with Charlie Palmieri
and Joe Cuba
in 1965 to 1968. He partnered with Tito Rodriguez
and released Tito Rodríguez y Louie Ramírez En Algo Nuevo LP in 1972. He became a staff producer at Fania in 1975. He appeared as a sideman or a production assistant on many recordings by other artists, such as Willie Colón
in the 1970s.
On June 7, 1993, while driving along Junction Boulevard in Queens, New York, Louie Ramirez suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 55. He was recording his third album with singer Ray De La Paz. It was entitled "Preparate Bailador".
Boogaloo
Boogaloo or bugalú is a genre of Latin music and dance that was popular in the United States in the 1960s. Boogaloo originated in New York City among teenage Cubans, Puerto Ricans and other groups. The style was a fusion of popular African American R&B and soul with mambo and son montuno...
, salsa
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
and 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...
percussionist, vibraphonist, band leader and composer. He was born on February 24, 1938 in 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...
. He died on June 7, 1993. He co-wrote with Johnny Pacheco
Johnny Pacheco
Johnny Pacheco is a Dominican producer, musician, bandleader, and one of the most influential figures in American salsa music.-Early life:...
the 1961 hit, El Güiro De Macorina. He has been called "the Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
of Salsa."
He made his professional debut with Joe Loco's band in 1956, replacing vibraphonist Pete Terrace. He made his own debut as a bandleader in 1963, with Introducing Louie Ramirez (Rmo Records). He subsequently recorded for Alegre
Alegre Records
Alegre Records was a New York record label that was founded in 1956 by Al Santiago who owned a 1950s record store in The Bronx named Casalegre and co-founded by clothing businessman Ben Perlman...
, Fania
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...
, Atco
Atco Records
ATCO Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, currently operating through WMG's Rhino Entertainment.-Beginnings:Atco Records was founded in 1955 as a division of Atlantic Records. It was devised as an outlet for productions by one of Atlantic's founders, Herb Abramson, who...
, United Artists Records
United Artists Records
United Artists Records was a record label founded by Max E. Youngstein of United Artists in 1957 initially to distribute records of its movie soundtracks, though it soon branched out into recording music of a number of different genres.-History:...
, Caiman and FNA.
He partnered with Charlie Palmieri
Charlie Palmieri
Charlie Palmieri was a renowned Bandleader and musical director of salsa music. He was known as "The Giant of the Keyboards".-Early years:...
and Joe Cuba
Joe Cuba
Joe "Sonny" Cuba was a Puerto Rican musician who was considered to be the "Father of Latin Boogaloo".-Early years:...
in 1965 to 1968. He partnered with Tito Rodriguez
Tito Rodriguez
Tito Rodríguez was a popular 1950s and 1960s Puerto Rican singer and bandleader. He is known by many fans as "El Inolvidable" , a moniker based on his most popular interpretation, a song written by composer Julio Gutierrez.-Early years:Rodríguez , born in Santurce, Puerto Rico,...
and released Tito Rodríguez y Louie Ramírez En Algo Nuevo LP in 1972. He became a staff producer at Fania in 1975. He appeared as a sideman or a production assistant on many recordings by other artists, such as Willie Colón
Willie Colón
William Anthony Colón is a Nuyorican salsa musician. Primarily a trombonist, Colón also sings, writes, produces and acts. He is also involved in municipal politics in New York City.-Early years:...
in the 1970s.
On June 7, 1993, while driving along Junction Boulevard in Queens, New York, Louie Ramirez suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 55. He was recording his third album with singer Ray De La Paz. It was entitled "Preparate Bailador".