He was the younger brother of Charlie Palmieri. When he was only 5 years old, he used to musically accompany Charlie and together they would enter and participate in many talent contests. Eddie performed at Carnegie Hall when he was 11 years old and formed his own band in 1950, when he was just 14. During the 1950s, Palmieri played in various bands, including Tito Rodriguez's.
In 1962, Palmieri formed the band La Perfecta, which included trombone player Barry Rogers and singer Ismael Quintana. The music to the Charanga required an orchestra with a flute and violins, but Eddie also added a mixture of trumpets and trombones. He also experimented by including a touch of jazz in his recordings. He recorded, among others, Lo Que Traigo Es Sabroso (What I Bring is Juicy) and Mozambique, before the group disbanded in 1968.
Palmieri's "La Perfecta" departed from the traditional Caribbean sources of salsa instrumentation by introducing a new stylistic device into the New York Latin sound. Their signature sound relied heavily on two trombones and a flute instead of trumpets. The combination helped to give La Perfecta a rich and bold sound which contributed to Palmieri's success with his new band.
In 1971, Palmieri recorded Vamonos Pa'l Monte (Going to the Mountain) with his brother Charlie at the organ. That same year he also recorded Eddie Palmieri & Friends in Concert, At the University of Puerto Rico. In 1974, Eddie won the first ever Grammy Award for Best Latin Recording with The Sun of Latin Music, which is historic, as it was the first time Latin Music was recognized by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences.
In the 1990s, Palmieri had participated in various concerts and recordings with the Fania All-Stars and the Tico All-Stars; he also introduced La India with the production of Llego La India via Eddie Palmieri (La India has arrived via Eddie Palmieri), released in 1992.
Eddie actively tours the United States, Europe, South America as well as many other countries, and made his first appearance in China in 2008. He has been honored with numerous prestigious awards, one being an honorary doctorate degree from the Berklee College of Music, as well as inducted into both the Bronx Walk of Fame and the Chicago Walk of Fame.
Eddie has a career spanning over 50 years as well as a discography of 36 titles. He is one of the most influential and legendary Latin musicians.
Malagueña salerosa
Eddie Palmieri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Debajo dessas dos cejas
Debajo dessas dos cejas
Que bonitos ojos tienes
Ellos me quierem mirar
Pero si tu lo no dejas
Pero si tu lo no dejas
Malagueña Salerosa
Besar tus labios quisiera
Besar tus labios quisiera
Malagueña Salerosa
Y decirte niña hermosa
Que eres linda y hechicera
Que eres linda y hechicera
Como el candor de una rosa
Si por pobre me desprecias
Yo te concedo razón
Yo te concedo razón
The lyrics to Eddie Palmeri's song "Malagueña Salerosa" speak of the beauty of a woman's eyes and the desire to kiss her lips. The repetition of "que bonitos ojos tienes" (what beautiful eyes you have) highlights the songwriter's fascination with the woman's eyes, which are accentuated by her two eyebrows. However, the singer acknowledges that he cannot look at her the way her eyes deserve because she does not allow it, not even to blink. The song then transitions into the chorus which refers to the woman's hometown of Malagueña and her enchanting beauty, likening her to a rose.
The verse "If you despise me for being poor, I grant you reason" speaks to the idea that the singer is not good enough for the woman because of his financial situation. Despite the singer's poverty, he cannot resist the woman's beauty and charm, and he wants to express his admiration for her.
Overall, the song is about unrequited love and the longing for someone who may be out of reach. The singer admires the woman from afar, unable to act on his desires due to his lack of wealth, but he still wants to express his feelings in his song.
Line by Line Meaning
Que bonitos ojos tienes
Your eyes are so beautiful
Debajo dessas dos cejas
Underneath those two eyebrows
Debajo dessas dos cejas
Underneath those two eyebrows
Que bonitos ojos tienes
Your eyes are so beautiful
Ellos me quierem mirar
They want to look at me
Pero si tu lo no dejas
But if you don't allow it
Pero si tu lo no dejas
But if you don't allow it
Ni siquiera parpadear
Not even to blink
Malagueña Salerosa
Charming woman from Malaga
Besar tus labios quisiera
I would love to kiss your lips
Besar tus labios quisiera
I would love to kiss your lips
Malagueña Salerosa
Charming woman from Malaga
Y decirte niña hermosa
And tell you that you are a beautiful girl
Que eres linda y hechicera
That you are pretty and charming
Que eres linda y hechicera
That you are pretty and charming
Como el candor de una rosa
Like the innocence of a rose
Si por pobre me desprecias
If you despise me because of my poverty
Yo te concedo razón
I give you reason
Yo te concedo razón
I give you reason
Contributed by Cooper R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Fernando Quiñones
on Mi Palo Pa' Rumba
Que Palo pa" Rumba te Cambio a Ti,
Asi, Pa' Que Respete Aqui
Palo pa" Rumba te Cambio a Ti,
Asi, Pa' Que Respete Aqui
La Amistad cuando se da No Se Devuelve
Mejorando Entendimiento Te Aconsejo
Yo No Me Explico Porque Tu Piensas
Asi de Mi, Si Jamas Pienso Mal Yo de Ti
Que Palo pa" Rumba te Cambio a Ti
Que Palo pa" Rumba te Cambio a Ti,
Asi, Pa' Que Respete Aqui
Palo pa" Rumba te Cambio a Ti,
Asi, Pa' Que Respete Aqui
La Amistad cuando se da No Se Devuelve
Mejorando Entendimiento Te Aconsejo
Yo No Me Explico Porque Tu Piensas
Asi de Mi, Si Jamas Pienso Mal Yo de Ti
Que Palo pa" Rumba te Cambio a Ti
Coro: Si Somos Guerreros Pues Palo Pa' Rumba