Fania Records
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Founded in 1964 by Dominican bandleader Johnny Pacheco and his attorney Jerry Masucci, Fania Records was a label that started from their mutual passion for Latin music. Together, they created a powerhouse label with a signature sound: the apex of tropical music, combined with the swing of big band jazz and the gritty vibe of American R&B, jazz, funk and soul. The label provided an artistic haven for a young generation of musicians who were inspired to experiment with new musical formats. The label started small, with the first official record release Cañonazo (Fania 321). In 1967, Masucci bought Pacheco’s share of the label, including its subsidiary labels. When Masucci passed in 1997, the label assets remained tied up for years, and in 2005, it was sold to V2 Records and Emusica. In 2018, Fania Records’ assets were sold to Concord, including 1.2K album masters, 15K songs and 7K compositions.
Fania’s rich master catalog also includes the Pete Rodriguez’s boogaloo classic “I Like It Like That” which was sampled by Cardi B in her #1 hit “I Like It.” In 2022, Bad Bunny sampled Ismael Rivera’s “Controversia” in the track “El Apagon” from his album Un Verano Sin Ti. Additionally, three Fania Recordings, Celia & Johnny by Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco, Azucar Pa’ Ti by Eddie Palmieri and Live at Yankee Stadium by the Fania All-Stars, appear in the National Recording Registry, a list of sound recordings that “are culturally, historically or aesthetically important, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States.”
Throughout 2024, Craft Latino will take a deeper look at the label’s history and incredible roster of talent through special video and editorial content and playlists. Giveaways, additional releases, and live summer and fall Fania 60th events will be announced later in the year.
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