The Latin music industry is mourning the death of legendary pianist and bandleader Larry Harlow, who died of kidney disease complications on Friday (Aug. 20). Harlow was 82.
“It is with deep sadness that we regret sharing the passing of Larry Harlow, producer, arranger, pianist extraordinaire, and Fania All-Star member,” Fania Records shared in a Facebook post. “Harlow, also known as El Judio Maravilloso, made a name for himself with his dexterity on the piano, organ, flute, and bass. He went off to record more than 106 albums by various artists, and 50 of his own under the Fania label and other subsidiary labels.”
Known as “El Judío Maravilloso,” Harlow had no Latin ancestry, but he was passionate about Latin music, becoming one of the first signed artists to Fania Records. He also helped shape the sound of salsa in the ‘60s and ‘70s in New York.
On social media, a wave of Latin artists expressed their condolences.
“An innovative and powerful pianist, a knowledgeable and serious student of the history and development of Afro-Cuban music,” Panamanian artist Rubén Blades shared. “Larry was one of the smartest and most intellectually prepared artists I ever met in New York.”
“He gave a lot to the salsa genre and especially to Fania All-Stars,” Oscar D León wrote in an Instagram post.
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