RIP Larry Harlow “El Judio Maravilloso” of Orquesta Harlow & Fania All Stars

Pianist, Producer, Bandleader and composer Larry Harlow “El Judio Maravilloso” (pictured left with Luis Medina SF Bay Area 2006) of the Fania All Stars and his own Orquesta Harlow passed away this past Friday, August 20th due to complications with Kidney disease at the age of 82. In the late 60’s and in the early 1970’s, Larry Harlow served as producer of countless Fania albums and produced over 260 recordings in his career. He was the musical director of the Fania All Stars and led his own Orquesta Harlow which boasted the talents of many great musicians and one of the greatest soneros of all time, Ismael Miranda as well as influential soneros such as Junior Gonzalez and Nestor Sanchez. He created his orchestra after he played with Johnny Pacheco’s conjunto during the 1964 World’s Fair.

Harlow, born Ira Kahn in Brooklyn in 1939 came from a musical family. His father Buddy Kahn Harlow was a bassist and a bandleader. He started studying piano at age five and planned to be a jazz pianist until he heard the mambo while attending High school.

Harlow loved the contemporary as well as the traditional. He recorded “Hommy“, a progressive Latin salsa opera that featured Celia Cruz that was performed at Carnegie Hall but he was influenced by the great tres titan Arsenio Rodriguez and recorded his classic “Tribute to Arsenio Rodriguez” after his death. Known as a disciple of Arsenio Rodriguez “El Ciegito Maravilloso”, he was himself nicknamed “El Judio Maravilloso”. Harlow is considered one of the influential architects of the New York Salsa sound through his work with his orchestra and with Fania Records. His Orquesta Harlow was the first act that signed with Fania. He modernized his take on the Cuban son montuno, mambo and guaracha sound and pioneered a two trumpet and two trombone configuration for his orchestra that influenced other acts.

Harlow maintained his Orquesta Harlow up until the 1990’s when he created the Latin Legends of Fania with Ray Barretto, Ismael Miranda, Pete “El Conde” Rodriguez, Adalberto Santiago and Yomo Toro. Later, he toured with his Latin Legends band featuring young vocalists Emo Luciano and Luisito Rosario. Harlow also recorded a live Latin Jazz session at Birdland with luminaries such as Chembo Corniel and Bobby Sanabria as well as teaming up with Grammy Award winner Marlow Rosado for a cd called Marlow Harlow a few years ago.

Larry Harlow was presented with a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. Harlow was hospitalized for a month prior to his death on Friday. RIP Larry! Thanks for all the great music. You will be missed!