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.
Oye lo Que Te Convienne
Eddie Palmieri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Un quinto llamando, mi guaguanco
Elabio tumbando, y la orquesta repicando
Que rico bongo
A ti te conviene,
Oye bien lo que tiene mi guaguanco
Elabio tumbando, y la orquesta repicando
Que rico bongo
Mi ritmo llama y dice asi
Escuchalo sonar, ay a ti te conviene
Oye bien lo que tiene mi guaguanco
Elabio tumbando, y la orquesta repicando
Que rico bongo
Oyelo que te conviene, mi tambor esta sonando
Oyelo que te conviene, tambor, tambor, tambor, tambor
Oyelo que te conviene, pero que rico es mi guaguanco
...Oyelo, oyelo, oyelo
...para que goce mi gente
...Mensaje de harmonia
...A Osain, le estoy cantando
...Oye proteje la gente mia
...oyelo, oyelo, oyelo
...la la la
...mira que rico es mi guaguanco
...vengo con la esencia del sabor, mira la rumba
...la rumba que retumba, que te rompe el corazon
...oyelo, oyelo, oyelo
Oyelo que te conviene
...le le le le le le
...la rumba, la tumba, la rumba, el tambor
...me sale de guaguanco
...y te lo traigo para ti
...ay, candiosiles? pa mi chango
The lyrics of Eddie Palmieri's song "Oye lo Que Te Convienne" are a call to the listener to pay attention to the enticing sounds of the guaguancó rhythm, characterized by the relentless beat of the bongos and the rhythmic precision of the congas. The singer, acting as a musical evangelist or messenger, urges the audience to embrace the joy of the guaguancó, which he claims is beneficial ("conviene") to them. He describes the complexity and richness of the music, emphasizing the interplay between the different instruments of the orchestra, and the irresistible pull of the beat. The repetition of the phrase "oyelo que te conviene" throughout the song serves as a mantra, a hypnotic suggestion that reinforces the idea that the guaguancó is not only pleasurable but also uplifting and empowering.
The lyrics also include references to Afro-Cuban religious practices, as the singer mentions Osain, one of the Orishas or deities of the Yoruba religion, who is associated with the healing power of plants and herbs. The mention of Osain could be interpreted as a plea for protection and spiritual guidance, as the singer invokes the deity to watch over his people. The use of Spanish and Yoruba phrases, along with the rhythmic variations and improvisational sections of the music, highlight the multicultural and syncretic nature of Afro-Caribbean music and its role in shaping the identity and cultural heritage of the region.
Line by Line Meaning
Que es lo yo escucho
What I am hearing
Un quinto llamando, mi guaguanco
A quinto caller, my guaguanco
Elabio tumbando, y la orquesta repicando
Elabio knocking, and the orchestra playing
Que rico bongo
What a rich bongo
A ti te conviene, Oye bien lo que tiene mi guaguanco
It suits you, listen well to my guaguanco
Y yo te lo traigo para ti
And I bring it to you
Mi ritmo llama y dice asi, Escuchalo sonar, ay a ti te conviene
My rhythm calls and says like this, listen to it sound, oh it suits you
Oyelo que te conviene, mi tambor esta sonando
Listen to it, it suits you, my drum is playing
Oyelo que te conviene, tambor, tambor, tambor, tambor
Listen to it, it suits you, drum, drum, drum, drum
Oyelo que te conviene, pero que rico es mi guaguanco
Listen to it, it suits you, but how rich my guaguanco is
...Oyelo, oyelo, oyelo
...Listen to it, listen to it, listen to it
...para que goce mi gente
...so that my people enjoy
...Mensaje de harmonia
...Message of harmony
...A Osain, le estoy cantando
...I am singing to Osain
...Oye proteje la gente mia
...Listen, protect my people
...oyelo, oyelo, oyelo
...Listen to it, listen to it, listen to it
...la la la
...la la la
...mira que rico es mi guaguanco
...look how rich my guaguanco is
...vengo con la esencia del sabor, mira la rumba
...I come with the essence of flavor, look at the rumba
...la rumba que retumba, que te rompe el corazon
...the rumba that thunders, that breaks your heart
...oyelo, oyelo, oyelo
...Listen to it, listen to it, listen to it
Oyelo que te conviene
Listen to it, it suits you
...le le le le le le
...le le le le le le
...la rumba, la tumba, la rumba, el tambor
...the rumba, the tomb, the rumba, the drum
...me sale de guaguanco
...it comes out of my guaguanco
...y te lo traigo para ti
...and I bring it to you
...ay, candiosiles? pa mi chango
...oh, candiosiles? for my chango
Writer(s): Eddie Palmieri
Contributed by Tristan R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@HarveyAverne
EDDIE PALMIERI "OYELO QUE TE CONVIENE" CANTA LALO RODRIGUEZ FROM THE 1976 GRAMMY AWARD WINNING ALBUM IN THE LATIN MUSIC CATEGORY "UNFINISHED MASTERPIECE" PRODUCED, DIRECTED AND MIXED BY HARVEY AVERNE FOR CoCo RECORDS
@luckylouie522
Thanks Harvey , Salsa History Here ...
@salvioromero6867
Mi, ,! Me. No. No. ,,
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@magalyalfonzo2888
Demaciado m levantó el ánimo ful trememda música .
@clauderodulfo4360
@Salvio Romero la semaine du mois d'août pour les enfants sont très bons résultats du test
@clauderodulfo4360
@Salvio Romero la semaine du mois d'août pour les enfants sont très bons résultats du test aurait
@beepst
Esto no es solo música para bailar, es música para la mente.
@omig.torres6746
Lalo Rodríguez descansa en paz!! La visión de Palmieri al hacerte parte de su orquesta fue la acertada.. Gracias por tu música.
@danielponce3606
A LOS 17 AÑOS DE EDAD. UN CHAMAQUITO
@eduarditobedoya3560
Sin duda Eddie PALMIERI y Lalo RODRIGUEZ Son Patrimonio Mundial de La Salsa, VIVA Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 , Saludos desde Guayaquil