In 1964, Fania Records was founded in New York City by Jerry Masucci, an Italian-American lawyer with a love for Latin melodies, and Johnny Pacheco, a talented composer and bandleader born in the Dominican Republic. Jerry Masucci later bought out his partner Johnny Pacheco from Fania Entertainment Group Ltd. and was sole owner for many years until his death in December 1997.
Throughout the early years, Fania used to distribute its records to music aficionados around New York City, even going as far as selling their products out of the trunks of cars. But eventually good word-of-mouth and immense success from Johnny Pacheco's Cañonaso recording would lead the label to develop its roster. Masucci and Pacheco, now executive negotiator and musical director, respectively, began acquiring fresh and creative NYC artists like Bobby Valentín, Larry Harlow and Ray Barreto.
Similar to Pacheco, most of these new talents were residents of the city's barrios and boroughs, that had moved to the city from their homelands and brought their music along. Thus, Fania and it's All-Stars were results of this era of musical renaissance and understanding among the countless cultures of NYC. They created tunes using a variety of genres available in this melting pot, including those of salsa, boogalu, Cuban Jazz and Latin R&B.
In 1968, with Fania Records garnering more acclaim and a troupe of emerging artists, Jerry Masucci and Johnny Pacheco decided to create an ensemble of the most well-known and innovative Fania artists, a continuously-revolving line-up of entertainers known as the Fania All-Stars.
During the 1970s, the star-studded group became renowned worldwide for their spectacular one-of-a-kind musical performances. Because of this, it is no surprise that their music was primarily captured and lives on today through a series of best-selling live recordings.
Among the most treasured of these recordings is the legendary arrangement "Fania All Stars: Live At The Cheetah, Volumes 1 and 2." The set, recorded in 1971 and produced a year later by Fania's own keyboard player Larry Harlow, exhibits the entire All-Star family performing before a capacity audience in New York's Cheetah Lounge. The volumes went on to become the biggest-selling Latin albums ever produced by one group from one concert. To this day, they are is still considered by many as the essence of Latin music.
Following sell-out concerts in Puerto Rico, Chicago and Panama, the All-Stars embarked on their first appearance at New York's Yankee Stadium on August 24th, 1973. The Stars performed before an unprecedented crowd of 63,000 spectators in a concert that highlighted the talents of Ray Barretto, Willie Colón, Larry Harlow, Johnny Pacheco, Roberto Roena, Bobby Valentín, and Jorge Santana (younger brother of Carlos Santana), among others. In the days leading up to the concert, it was anticipated that the event would revolutionize the music business similar to how the Beatles did in the early 1960s. In fact, when the All-Stars returned to Yankee Stadium in 1975, they became ingrained in history. This time, the highlighted acts included Celia Cruz, Hector Lavoe, Cheo Feliciano, Ismael Miranda, Justo Betancourt, Ismael Quintana, Pete “El Conde” Rodriguez, Bobby Cruz and Santos Colón. That year, "Live at Yankee Stadium" was included in the second set of 50 recordings in the List of recordings preserved in the United States National Recording Registry, solidifying the All-Stars as "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant."
Just a few months before, in 1974, the All Stars had performed in Zaire, Africa, at the 80,000-seat Stadu du Hai in Kinshasa. This unforgettable spectacle was captured on film by Gast and released as "Live In Africa" ("Salsa Madness" in the UK). This Zairean appearance occurred along with James Brown and others at a music festival held in conjunction with the Mohammed Ali/George Foreman heavyweight title fight. Footage of the performance was also included in the 2008 documentary "Soul Power".
In an attempt to attain a wider market for salsa, Fania made a deal with Columbia Records in the US for a series of crossover albums by the All Stars. The first project was the lukewarm "Delicate & Jumpy" (1976), in which Steve Winwood united with the All Stars' Pacheco, Valentin, Barreto and Roena. It was also in 1976 that the Fania All Stars made their sole UK appearance. They produced a memorable sell-out concert at London’s Lyceum Ballroom, with Steve Winwood guesting.
In 1978 the All-Stars released "Live," a fully-blown version of the band recorded in concert at New York's Madison Square Garden in September of that year.
In 1979, Fania All-Stars travelled to Havana, Cuba, to participate in the historic Havana Jam festival that took place between 2-4 March, alongside Rita Coolidge, Kris Kristofferson, Stephen Stills, the CBS Jazz All-Stars, the Trio of Doom, Billy Swan, Bonnie Bramlett, Mike Finnegan, Weather Report, and Billy Joel, plus an array of Cuban artists such as Irakere, Pacho Alonso, Tata Güines and Orquesta Aragón. Their performance is captured on Ernesto Juan Castellanos's documentary Havana Jam '79.
That same year saw the release of "Crossover," the All-Stars' last Columbia Records album, as well as "Havana Jam on Fania," which came from a concert recorded in Havana on March 2nd.
The first signs of recession appeared in 1980, when Fania suffered setbacks including an unsuccessful movie, tension from artists with unpaid royalties, and failed distribution deals with Columbia and Atlantic Records at boosting salsa into the mainstream US market. In addition, the New York salsa scene, which had always been vital to the success of the label, was gradually succumbing to the rise of merengue from Dominican Republic and salsa romantica from Puerto Rico. As the decade ended, the All-Stars recorded fewer albums together, and it was pretty visible that the genre -- and the star-studded group that propelled it -- had reached the end of its golden age.
Although the Fania-All Stars troupe eventually reached a low during the late 1980s, many of the members continued to have individual success in their solo careers. Most notably, Hector Lavoe became an icon in the world of salsa, as people became enchanted both by his music and his tragic life story. In 2007, two films about Lavoe were released, including one produced by actress Jennifer Lopez and salsa star Marc Anthony.
Celia Cruz continued making hits until her death in 2003. In fact, Cruz gained popularity and renewed attention from younger generations throughout the new millennium, and her last singles became the biggest of her entire career. During these years, she was the recipient of numerous Grammy awards, was invited to perform alongside Aretha Franklin at the 2001 VH1 Divas concert, and just months before her passing, Univision presented a special tribute concert featuring over a dozen Latin music performers. After her death in New Jersey, her body was first laid in state in downtown Miami's Freedom Tower--where a quarter of a million people paid their final respects--and was then returned to New York City where tens of thousands of fans paid tribute to her in St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Willie Colon continued producing hits with Ruben Blades and as a solo artist. His latest album was released in 2007, and he currently works for Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City.
In 2008, Cheo Feliciano celebrated his 50 years in the music industry by hosting a spectacular concert at Madison Square Garden, where Mayor Bloomberg declared July 20th "Cheo Feliciano Day" in New York.
Today, only a few of the original All-Stars remain alive, as many have passed away in recent years. Nevertheless, their vigorous legacy is one that will live on for many generations. Having sold millions of records and fostered an enthusiastic following of fans throughout the globe, the legendary Fania All-Stars continue to be treasured and recognized as the quintessential Latin band of all time. Already, their music has transcended newer and contemporary genres like bachata and reggaeton. The music created by the All-Stars continues to entertain old and young fans alike, and they are as popular on the radio as they were back in the 70s. Interest in the iconic group has not declined, as albums, concerts, films and videos continue to be produced about the golden years of salsa.
During their extended and illustrious history, the New York City-based Fania All-Stars took their provocative and stirring rhythms on a journey throughout the world, and left music lovers enchanted with a remarkable collection of memorable performances that will capture the hearts and souls of listeners for many generations to come.
Juan Pachanga
Fania All Stars Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Son las cinco de la mañana y ya amanece
Juan Pachanga bien vestido aparece
Todos en el barrio están descansando
Y Juan Pachanga en silencio va pensando
Que aunque su vida
Su plan es falso igual
Que aquel amor que lo engaño
Y la luz del sol se ve alumbrando
Y Juan Pachanga el manito va penando
Vestido a la última moda y perfumado
Con zapato en colores
Ye, ye bien lustrados
Los que encuentren
En su camino los saludan
Hey man que feliz
Es Juan Pachanga todos juran
Pero llevar el alma el dolor de una traición
Que solo calman los tragos
Los tabacos y el tambor
Y mientras la gente duerme aparece
Juan Pachanga con su pena y ámense
Óyeme Juan Pachanga olvídala
Amanece con la pena
Óyeme Juan Pachanga olvídala
No, no, no, no, no, no, te quiere la morena
Óyeme Juan Pachanga olvídala
Mira que esta amaneciendo
Óyeme Juan Pachanga olvídala
El amor, amor, amor está muriendo
Óyeme Juan Pachanga olvídala
Olvídala, olvídala, olvídala, olvídala
Olvídala, olvídala, olvídala, olvídala
Olvídala, olvídala
Óyeme Juan Pachanga olvídala
Ay despierta y bótala
Óyeme Juan Pachanga olvídala
Porque nunca te ha querido
Óyeme Juan Pachanga olvídala
Dale también olvido
Óyeme Juan Pachanga olvídala
Déjale tu a la mentira
Óyeme Juan Pachanga olvídala
Que el amor no se mendiga
The lyrics to Fania All Stars’ song Juan Pachanga tell the story of a man named Juan Pachanga who appears well-dressed and perfumed at five in the morning, while everyone else in the neighborhood is still sleeping. Juan Pachanga, however, is plagued by the pain of a past love who betrayed him. Despite his seemingly carefree lifestyle of partying, drinking, and dancing, he carries the weight of his past love’s deception with him. As the sun rises, Juan Pachanga thinks about his false love and the pain it has caused him. He is greeted warmly by those he meets along the way, but only he knows the sorrow he carries.
The chorus of the song urges Juan Pachanga to forget his past love and move on, as the love he once had is dying. The song is a commentary on the tale of the playboy who loves to party, but who is actually deeply wounded by a past love. The refrain “Olvídala” (forget her) speaks to the idea that sometimes the only way to heal from a broken heart is to let go of the past and move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Son las cinco de la mañana y ya amanece
It is already dawn and it's 5 AM
Juan Pachanga bien vestido aparece
Juan Pachanga appears looking sharp
Todos en el barrio están descansando
Everyone in the neighborhood is resting
Y Juan Pachanga en silencio va pensando
Juan Pachanga is quietly reflecting
Que aunque su vida
Although his life
De fiesta y ron, noche y rumba
Of partying and rum, night and dance
Su plan es falso igual
His plan is just as false
Que aquel amor que lo engaño
As that love that deceived him
Y la luz del sol se ve alumbrando
The sunlight is shining
Y Juan Pachanga el manito va penando
And Juan Pachanga is lamenting
Vestido a la última moda y perfumado
Dressed in the latest fashion and smelling good
Con zapato en colores
With brightly colored shoes
Ye, ye bien lustrados
Polished and gleaming
Los que encuentren
Those he meets
En su camino los saludan
Greet him in passing
Hey man que feliz
Hey man, how happy
Es Juan Pachanga todos juran
Everyone swears that Juan Pachanga is
Pero llevar el alma el dolor de una traición
But carrying the pain of a betrayal in his soul
Que solo calman los tragos
That only drinks can calm
Los tabacos y el tambor
Cigars and drums
Y mientras la gente duerme aparece
And while people sleep, he appears
Juan Pachanga con su pena y ámense
Juan Pachanga with his sorrow and love
Óyeme Juan Pachanga olvídala
Listen to me, Juan Pachanga, forget her
Amanece con la pena
Dawn with the sorrow
No, no, no, no, no, no, te quiere la morena
No, no, no, she doesn't love you, the brunette
Mira que esta amaneciendo
Look, it's already dawn
El amor, amor, amor está muriendo
Love, love, love is dying
Ay despierta y bótala
Oh, wake up and get rid of her
Porque nunca te ha querido
Because she has never loved you
Dale también olvido
Also forget her
Déjale tu a la mentira
Leave behind the lie
Que el amor no se mendiga
Love cannot be begged for
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BLADES, MASUCCI, RAMIREZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Manuel Camacho
Este disco se titula "Fania All Stars. The Rhythm Machine", que fue producido por Columbia Records. Uno de los ingenieros de sonido le dijo a Pacheco que agregara "una máquina de ritmo" (una especie de caja de música con percusión preprogramada) y Pacheco, que era el director ejecutivo de grabación, le dijo "no, nosotros somos nuestra propia máquina de ritmo" (claro, Pacheco se lo dijo en inglés, "no, we are our own rhythm machine"), y de ahí el título de este larga duracion.
Pablo Torres
Lo mejores musicos de la salsa sabroso.💯☝️🎹🎼🎶🎵
lopz33
¡Tremendo clásico a cargo de las Estrellas Fania cantando Rubén Blades!
Pablo Cruz
Esto es la verdadera Salsa que se bailaba y que valia la Pena escuchar
Roger Manuel Arnao Purizaga
Lo maximo de la salsa de hoy y de siempre .
Pablo Torres
Los mejores.💯🇵🇷✌️😎
GREJOS22
Bendita seas salsa de mi alma , salsa de mi vida , bendita seas Fania , alimentas mi alma entera
salseroca
Ruben Blades is one bad ass dude. He is a very talented guy... lot of accomplishments in his life. Singer, actor, attorney, and a politician. Right on, Ruben!
tato bajo
bobby valentine,el major bajista d salsa d todos los tiempo
teodoro Dons
La mejor salsa jamás volverá a todos los jovenes establescan vinculo con la musica y mas con la salsa. Para Que gose.........😊😎