Palladium Ballroom - Palladium Starts Featuring Latin Music

Palladium Starts Featuring Latin Music

In 1948, music promoter Federico Pagani approached Palladium owner Max Hyman and his wife Helen an heiress to the Otis Elevator Corporation about booking Latin music there. The Palladium was the first to start a Latin matinee in a downtown dance hall on a Sunday and Wednesday. The first booking, on a Sunday afternoon, was reportedly a huge success, quickly prompting the club to fill its schedule with Latin music:

• The band of Arsenio Rodríguez, whose band members included Arsenio's bassist Alfonso "El Panameno" Joseph. One of the most popular bands to perform at the Palladium.
• Machito (born Frank Grillo), already an established New York act with sister Graciela on vocals, played there frequently with music arranger and sax player Mario Bauza, brother-in-law to Machito.
• The new Tito Puente. Promoter Federico Pagani gave him his big break from Federico Pagani's band. He played with the Picadilly Boys orchestra. He then left to form his own band. Federico started to help Tito Puente get booked in the Catskills. A place called El Patio and booked him at the Palladium to help him succeed his dream and he did. Tito always said to Federico Pagani "Pop You Are The Best There Is In Music - Thank You for the Memories."
• The other orchestra of singer/bandleader Tito Rodríguez - El Mundo De La Locas- Faggott's World a Fast Jazz tune that will blow your mind. On Sax Arranger:. He was also was booked by Federico Pagani at the Palladium and succeed his fame.
• Federico Pagani was a very powerful dance promoter and empresario he was well known to the American music audience, Musicians' Union and the recording industry. Pagani brought the Latin era to New York City. He opened many doors to Latin music musicians and created the Latin music era at The Palladium Ballroom and showed that the Latin music was here to stay. He is responsible for bringing the stars from Havana, Cuba and all the upcoming bands that were coming up as time went by for instance:
  • Celia Cruz
  • Machito and his Afro-Cubans featuring Graciela on vocals and Mario Bauza music arranger
  • La Sonora Matancera
  • Beny Moré and his orchestra
  • La Lupe, singer
  • Daniel Santos
  • Miguelito Valdés (the latter sometimes called "Mr. Babalu" and known for his friendly rivalry with
  • Desi Arnaz: Pagani introduced Lucille Ball to Desi Arnaz. Miguelito Valdes was a very close and good friend to
• Arsenio Rodriquez y su conjunto
• Noro Morales,
• Jose Curbelo,
• Joseito Mateo,
• Marcelino Guerra
• Jose Fajardo,
• Orchestra Aragon,
• Cortijo and Ismael Rivera,
• Cesar Concepciõn From Puerto Rico
• Perez Prado
• Xaviar Cugart
• Rolando LaSierie
• Vecentico Valdes
• Tommy Olivencia from Puerto Rico