New York, NY

Simply put, the Fania All-Stars were the house band for the illustrious '70s-era salsa record label Fania, but more accurately, like the Funk Brothers were to Motown, the All-Stars were the throbbing heart and soul that powered Fania's best acts, and arguably the key to the the label's brief but historically significant tenure. Backing such Latin greats as Hector Lavoe, Celia Cruz, and Ismael Miranda, the band played famously well-attended gigs at New York City's Cheetah Club, Yankee Stadium, and the Foreman vs. Ali "Rumble in the Jungle." These high-profile showcases proved that salsa was a viable genre, and introduced untold numbers of listeners to the joyful sounds of the Nuyorican barrios.