Jerry Masucci

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Jerry Masucci was co-founder of Fania Records.

Interview with Jerry Masucci talking about his artist's and his marketing of those artists. Jerry Masucci put Salsa Music on the international market, when Jerry started back in 1964 the word "Salsa" had never been used, he bought the Salsa music industry up from nothing. http://www.jerrymasucci.com

Elvira and Urbano Masucci gave birth to Gennaro while they lived in Brooklyn On October 7, 1934 a rags-to-riches tale.ultimately a home on the upper East Side, New York City, homes in Paris, Ibiza, Uruguay, Havana and Miami. He had moved to and died in his home in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Jerry Masucci had three daughter's, Darlene, Misty and Corrine with three different women, he kept his private life private. A lawyer then record producer, a promoter, then to become a Feature Film Maker. Jerry Masucci a native New Yorker, Masucci would become sole owner of Fania Records ( Co-founded with Johnny Pacheco in 1964) In 1977, Masucci owned ten other recording companies as well as Fania Records. Vaya, Cotique, Tico, Alegre, Mardi-Gras, Sonido, Exitos, International, Bronco, and Karen. He was also a part owner of the "Fame" modeling agency. Masucci has esteemed himself by his business acumen, collocating the fundamentals to produce success, after success, after success in recording artist's, live concerts, Movies, TV shows and as a Boxing Promotor.

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 Mexico City College where he played half-back with the college football team, while earning himself a degree in Business Administration, Majoring in foreign Trade, and graduating first in his class with cum laude honors. He then returned to the Police Department as a plain clothes policeman and attended New York Law School during the day he graduated from the New York Law School in 1960. He was awarded a Doctor of Law Degree. Jerry then resigned from the Police Department and worked in Havana, Cuba, as assistant to the Director of Public Relations in the Department of Tourism.

Jerry Masucci became a partner in the successful law firm Pariser & Masucci. Masucci met Johnny Pacheco in 1962 while his firm handle Pacheco's divorce. In 1964 Masucci and Pacheco would start Fania records. Throughout his tenure as Salsa's most powerful impresario, Masucci was a no-nonsense businessman who did everything legally, by the book. He was generous, sponsoring lavish parties, and buying everyone lunch at rehearsals.

They started by 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.

For the next 15 years Fania Records determined the new sound, a new culture, language that is timeless. With Cuba and Cuban music virtually shut down, musicians under the direction of what was selling and what Masucci liked, artists in New York were free to develop their own sound, and they did, Salsa.

Cheo Feliciano was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, in 1935, he is a living legend by his song "El Cantante," Said "Jerry Masucci, as the great businessman he was, he made a mixture of other rhythms or other influences to integrate within our salsa thing. Especially in my tune, "El Ratón," which is one of one of the tunes that I wrote at the very beginning. He included Jorge Santana with his guitar and that was a fusion of rock and salsa"

Recognising talent and skills 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.

Four films, Our Latin Thing, Salsa, Vigilante and The Last Fight. His first concert was in Yankee Stadium with 65,000 people, which was included in the second set of 50 recordings in the List of recordings preserved in the United States National Recording Registry, Masucci's Fania-All-Stars, culturally, historically are conclusively the creators of Salsa.

His first fight promotion was with the world famed Don King. Heavyweight Championship; Muhammad Ali and Jean Pierre Copuian they fought in Puerto Rico.

Masucci's business acumen and money paid to make many an unknown artist a star. A Who's who in Latin music history. Masucci invited many musicians to performed as members or guests of Masucci's Fania All-Stars, in alphabetical order:

Adalberto Santiago, Andy Montañez, Barry Rodgers, Bobby Cruz, Bobby Rodriguez, Bobby Valentin, Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri, Hector “Bomberito” Zarzuela, Harvey Averne, Héctor Lavoe, Ismael Miranda, Jimmy Sabater, Joe Bataan, Johnny Pacheco, Jorge Santana, Jose Cheo Feliciano, Larry Harlow, Larry Spencer, Louie Ramírez, Luis "Perico" Ortiz,Manudibango, Manu Dibango, Nicky Marrero, Orestes Vilato, Papo Lucca, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez, Ralph Robles, Ramon Mongo Santamaria, Ray Barretto, Renaldo Jorge, Ricardo Richie Ray, Roberto Roena, Rubén Blades, Santitos Santos Colon, Tito Puente, Victor Paz, Willie Colón, and Yomo Toro.