Photo: Gareth Cattermole (Getty Images)
Johnny Pacheco, Dominican bandleader and co-founder of the iconic salsa label Fania Records, died on February 15 at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, New Jersey. According to Dominican newspaper
Diario Libre, Pacheco had been hospitalized for complications from pneumonia. Fania Records confirmed his deathon social media with a statement that read, “It is with profound sadness we share the news of the passing of Johnny Pacheco. He was one of Fania’s founders and the man most responsible for the genre of Salsa music. He was a visionary and his music will live on eternally.” He was 85.