The Bay Area Latin music community is mourning the loss of master percussionist Louie Romero, founder and leader of the San Francisco salsa orchestra Mazacote and a musician whose career spanned the golden era of Fania Records through more than five decades of performing, recording and mentoring younger artists.
Romero died July 24 in San Francisco, leaving behind a legacy that reached from New York’s legendary salsa scene to stages throughout Northern California. Affectionately known as “El Timbalero de Fania,” he earned the respect of fellow musicians for his extraordinary talent, professionalism and generosity.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, to a Puerto Rican family, Romero began playing percussion at age seven. His professional breakthrough came in 1967 when bandleader Willie Colón invited the young timbalero to join his orchestra after hearing him perform in New York. During his career, Romero performed and recorded with some of the biggest names in Latin music, including Héctor Lavoe, Celia Cruz, Willie Colón, Rubén Blades, Pete “El Conde” Rodríguez, Ismael Miranda, Tito Puente Jr. and many others.
After moving to California in the 1980s, Romero became a cornerstone of the Bay Area salsa community. In 1994 he founded Mazacote, an orchestra that blended classic salsa, Latin jazz and Afro-Caribbean rhythms while earning recognition as one of Northern California’s premier salsa ensembles. Beyond the stage, he became a mentor who encouraged and inspired generations of local musicians…