Johnny Pacheco (85)

THE salsa idol, who was a cofounder of Fania Records, Eddie Palmieri’s bandmate and backer of music stars such as Ruben Blades, Willie Colon and Celia Cruz, died on February 15.

Fania Records tweeted that the musician was ‘‘the man most responsible for the genre of salsa music. He was a visionary and his music will live on eternally.’’

Singer Marc Anthony lamented the loss of Pacheco, calling him ‘‘maestro of maestros’’ and a good friend. —

AAP