Charlie Palmieri, also known as "The Giant of the Keyboards" (November 21, 1927-September 12, 1988) born in New York City, was a renowned Bandleader and musical director of salsa music. He is the brother of Eddie Palmieri. Palmieri's parents emigrated to New York from Ponce, Puerto Rico in 1926 and settled down in Spanish Harlem, a Hispanic ghetto located in Manhattan. As a child, Palmieri, (who was born Carlos Manuel Palmieri), taught himself to play the piano by ear.