Pacheco inherited his passion for music from his father, Rafael Azarias Pacheco, who was the bandleader and clarinetist of the “Santa Cecilia Orchestra”. In the late 1940s, when Pacheco was 11, his family moved to New York City from his native Dominican Republic. He continued polishing his musical skills, learning to play accordion, violin, saxophone and clarinet. He attended the Juilliard School of Music to study percussion.
Playing the flute, saxophone and assorted percussion, Pacheco performed with Charlie Palmieri‘s Latin orchestra for a number of years before forming his own band in 1959. Experimentation was the focus of his new band, blending African music of Cuban, Dominican, and Puerto Rican heritage into what came to be known as salsa.
In 1960, he organized his first orchestra, “Pacheco y Su Charanga”. The band signed with Alegre Records and its first album “Johnny Pacheco y Su Charanga” sold over 100,000 copies within the first year. Beginning then and through the end of 1963, Pacheco introduced a new dance craze called “Pachanga”. He became an internationally renowned star and toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Moreover '"Pacheco y Su Charanga", was the first Latin band to headline the Apollo in 1962 and 1963.
The early Fania All-Stars band was made up of Johnny Pacheco, musical director and flute; Larry Harlow on piano, Bobby Valentin on bass guitar, Ray Barretto on conga, (replaced by Eddie Montalvo later on) Roberto Roena on bongo, Orestes Vilato on timbales, (replaced by Nicky Marrero later on); Willie Colón, Barry Rodgers, and Renaldo Jorge(replaced by several others) on trombones, Larry Spencer , Roberto Rodriguez (replaced by Victor Paz) and Hector “Bomberito” Zarzuela on trumpets, and Yomo Toro on the cuatro (a small Puerto Rican guitar with ten strings). The lead singers included vocalists from the Colon, Pacheco, Barretto and Harlow bands. Hector Lavoe, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez, Adalberto Santiago, Ismael Miranda, were joined by Santitos Colon (from the Tito Puente band) and Jose Cheo Feliciano (from the Joe Cuba band). Early Fania All Stars guests were Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, Joe Bataan, Monguito, Mongo Santamaria, Jimmy Sabater, La La, Louie Ramirez, Ralph Robles, Yomo Toro, Nicky Marrero, Ricardo Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz. The 1970’s line-up included Rubén Blades, Celia Cruz, Papo Lucca, Eddie Palmieri, Andy Montañez, Jorge Santana (Carlos’s brother), drummer Billy Cobham and the Cameroonian sax player Manu Dibango, who appeared as a guest in concerts and live recordings in Africa and New York.
El Faisan
Johnny Pacheco Lyrics
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Con el faisán (que no se meta nadie, no)
Con el faisán no se meta nadie
Con el faisán (que no se metan con el faisán)
Con el faisán no se meta nadie
Con el faisán (que no se meta nadie, no, no, no)
Con el faisán no se meta nadie
Con el faisán no se meta nadie
Con el faisán (que no se meta nadie, no, no, no, no, no)
Con el faisán no se meta nadie
Con el faisán (que no se metan con mi faisán)
Buena Vista es mi cantar, sí (sí señor)
Le canto con regocijo (ay cómo no)
Caballero Buena Vista es mi cantar, sí (sí señor)
Le canto con regocijo (ay cómo no)
Y yo espero que a sus hijos (sí señor)
Nunca les falte el faisán pa' cumbanchar
Con el faisán no se meta nadie
Con el faisán (que no se meta nadie, no, no, no)
Con el faisán no se meta nadie
Con el faisán (que no te metas con mi faisán)
Te quiero más que a mi vida (sí señor)
Más que a mi vida te quiero (ay cómo no)
Pero que yo mamita te quiero más que a mi vida (sí señor)
Más que a mi vida te quiero (ay cómo no)
Pero más quiero el faisán (sí señor)
Sin el faisán yo me muero
Con el faisán no se meta nadie
Con el faisán (pero que rico es el faisán)
Con el faisán no se meta nadie
Con el faisán (ahí viene pues Salsito)
(Faisanízate) ay faisanízate, tú verá'
(Faisanízate) qué rico mulata, pa' guarachar
(Faisanízate) faisán, faisán, faisán, faisán
(Faisanízate) faisán, faisán de la India, mi faisán
(Faisanízate) yo quiero cuando me muera
(Faisanízate) que me entierren en faisán
(Faisanízate) y a la mañana siguiente
(Faisanízate) me levanto a cumbanchar
(Faisanízate) faisán, faisán, faisán, faisán
(Faisanízate) en mi casa toman bultero, Pacheco, en tu casa faisán
(Faisanízate) qué rico ehh, pa' cumbanchar
(Faisanízate) faisán-sán, sán-sán-sán
(Faisanízate) qué rico ehh, que es mi faisán, y
(Faisanízate)
(Faisanízate)
(Faisanízate)
(Faisanízate)
(Faisanízate)
(Faisanízate) ay faisanízate, tú verá'
(Faisanízate) qué sabroso, rico, pa' gozar
(Faisanízate) faisán, faisán, faisán, faisán
(Faisanízate) el asunto del faisán
(Faisanízate) es una cosa profunda
(Faisanízate) hay uno que es guarachero
(Faisanízate) y hay otro que viene en funda
(Faisanízate) ehh, qué rico es mi faisán
(Faisanízate) cuando te sientas a un lado
(Faisanízate) pues te invitan a una mesa
(Faisanízate) saborea un buen faisán
(Faisanízate) y no pierdas la cabeza
(Faisanízate) faisán, faisán, faisán, faisán
(Faisanízate)
The lyrics of Johnny Pacheco's "El Faisán" talk about the importance and value of the "faisán", which is a type of pheasant. The song warns people not to mess with the faisán and emphasizes how crucial it is for celebrations and a good life. The lyrics also express the artist's love for the faisán and his desire to have it with him always, even in death. The repetitive verses and catchy refrain reinforce the importance of the faitan and make it clear that it is not to be messed with.
The song is a classic example of music from the genre of salsa, which originated in the 1970s in New York City, with influences from Puerto Rican and Cuban music. It was written and performed by Johnny Pacheco, a Dominican musician, bandleader, and one of the pioneers of salsa music. The lyrics are simple and straight to the point, with a catchy rhythm that is easy to dance to. The song became a popular hit in Latin America and the United States and has been covered and sampled by many other artists.
Line by Line Meaning
Con el faisán no se meta nadie
Nobody should mess with my faisán
Buena Vista es mi cantar, sí
I sing happily about Buena Vista
Le canto con regocijo
I sing with joy
Y yo espero que a sus hijos (sí señor)
I hope that to their children, they will never lack faisán to party
Te quiero más que a mi vida (sí señor)
I love you more than my life
Más que a mi vida te quiero (ay cómo no)
I love you more than my life, of course
Pero más quiero el faisán (sí señor)
But I love faisán more
(Faisanízate) ay faisanízate, tú verá'
Become like a faisán, you'll see
(Faisanízate) el asunto del faisán
The faisán matter is something profound
(Faisanízate) ehh, qué rico es mi faisán
Oh, how delicious is my faisán
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: John Pacheco
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind