The Ministry of Culture has unveiled a posthumous mural in tribute to the remarkable “salsa teacher” Johnny Pacheco, who died on February 15, 2021 in New York from pneumonia. He was 85 years old.
The event was led by the Minister of Culture, Carmen Heredia, in the Plaza de la Cultura Juan Pablo Duarte, where this work was inaugurated, which projects the trajectory of the legend of tropical music who was born in Santiago de los Caballeros.
The mural, located behind the Pedro Henríquez Ureña National Library, reflects the legacy of the outstanding composer, arranger, musician and creator of Fania All Stars.
Minister Heredia was accompanied by Deputy Ministers Giovanny Cruz, creativity and popular participation; Fernando Antonio Cruz (Bonny Cepeda), of decentralization and territorial coordination, and the director of ethics and governmental integrity, Milagros Ortiz Bosch. In addition, the senator for the province of Duarte, Franklin Romero and the governor of the Plaza de la Cultura Juan Pablo Duarte, Miguelina Cepeda.
Also present were personalities in the artistic field, as well as the Ambassador of the European Union, Gianluca Grippa, and the Ambassador of France, Eric Fournier.
The Head of Culture stated that: “Johnny Pacheco, a pheasant who took off from our lands, singing in Havana and playing all over the world. From the quimbara, he guaguancó. A wide repertoire provides text on the history of a rumba.
“Dear Johnny, your departure is truly a national duel. On behalf of the entire Dominican people, thank you “, concluded the Minister of Culture Carmen Heredia.
Deputy Minister Fernando Antonio Cruz (Bonny Cepeda) also highlighted the legacy of salsa master Johnny Pacheco.
The mural was made by Dominican artists Johann Báez (Dovente), Gabriel Doñé (Shak), Néstor Omar García (Angurria) and the Puerto Rican David Sepúlveda, known as “Don Rimx”.
The visual artists thanked the Ministry of Culture for their support and, at the same time, allowed them to have the privilege of exalting with the talent and creativity the figure of one of the best musical ambassadors of the Dominican Republic in the world.
At the end of the event, the group Bonyé performed several pieces of music, including Primoroso cantar, Kimbara, Blanca, Besito de coco, Como cocina la gorda, Esencia del guaguancó, Las chicas and Sonero. On this occasion, the Bonyé group was accompanied by a corps of dancers from the Salsa Crew academy.
+ Johnny Pacheco’s profile
Juan Pablo Pacheco Knipping, known as Johnny Pacheco, was born on March 25, 1935 in Santiago de los Caballeros and emigrated as a child with his entire family to New York, where he began his studies and musical training. He was a Dominican musician, flutist, composer, arranger, director and producer of Cuban music and other Caribbean rhythms, such as salsa.
He is considered one of the most influential figures in Latin Caribbean music, because he was co-founder with Jerry Masucci of Fania.
He was the creator of the musical concept “salsa”, applied to rhythms born in the Spanish-speaking Caribbean Antilles, mainly from Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, and which has its rhythmic foundation and direct origin in Guaracha.