Alexander Masucci

Alexander Masucci, the former Vice President of the historic Latin music label, Fania Records, is an indomitable character of the 20th-century music industry. His vast array of accomplishments includes signing many of Fania’s most celebrated artists, including Ricardo Marrero, Bobby Rodriguez Y La Compania, Ruben Blades, among others, producing multiple best-selling records for Fania, and managing the production of the most iconic concerts of the era–including Mohommad Ali vs. George Floyd in Zaire, Africa. Since his time at Fania, he has gone on to produce iconic sounds in Latin and reggae music.  

Brother to late Jerry Masucci, legendary attorney, music executive, and co-founder of Fania Records, Alex Masucci started working for Fania Records at the age of fourteen, helping deliver newly pressed records first by subway, and later from the back of his mother's automobile to record shops in Spanish Harlem.  In 1972, Alex began working at Fania as a promoter and distributor after attending attended Universidad de las Américas, A.C. in Mexico City, where he studied business.

During his early years at Fania, Alex co-founded A&R Film Distributors with Ray Aviles which focused on strategizing the distribution of Fania Records' film, Our Latin Thing. The company proceeded with four wall distribution in New York, Puerto Rico, Chicago, Venezuela, Panama, and Colombia, handling advertising and distribution for Our Latin Thing, and helped launch the film into legend.

Following the film's release, Masucci managed the production for all international concerts for the Fania All-Stars. The first of which was at the original Yankee Stadium on Friday, August 24, 1973. The All-Stars played to a completely packed house: 45,000 people. The concert now included in the second set of 50 recordings preserved by the National Recording Registry. This iconic experience was the source of Live at the Yankee Stadium Volumes 1&2, as well as a film of the live concert titled "Salsa."

In 1974, The Fania All Stars were invited by Zaire's (now Democratic Republic of the Congo), government to open for the Rumble In the Jungle, a historic boxing event which pitted the undefeated world heavyweight champion George Foreman against challenger Muhammad Ali, the former heavyweight champion. The concert featured the visionary Celia Cruz and was attended by 80,000 roaring people, dancing salsa until the stadium shook. Alex kept the whole production running.

Masucci became Vice President of Fania in 1976, producing concerts at Madison Square Garden and internationally from until 1978. Masucci parted ways with Fania for Island Records at the request of founder & friend Chris Blackwell to head Island's Special Projects division. While there, Masucci signed and produced hit albums for Invisible Man's Band, including "All Night Thing," and Third World (band)'s hit single "Now That We Found Love."

Masucci also coordinated production on the film featuring Third World (band) titled "Prisoner in the Street." He was also instrumental in orchestrating the breakthrough of Bob Marley into urban radio in the United States. During that time, Masucci and Clarence Burke Jr., formerly of the Five Stairsteps and lead singer of the "Invisible Man's Band," co-wrote and produced most of the songs on both "Invisible Man's Band" albums.

In 1981, music and film industry visionary Neil Bogart urged Masucci to join his label Boardwalk Records. Masucci and Burke Jr. had previously formed Seduction Productionsand agreed to sign with Boardwalk, joining a group of artists including Joan Jett, Ringo Starr, and Curtis Mayfield. In the early 1990s, Masucci re-partnered with his brother Jerry and formed a new Salsa label called Cache'.

This was to be the beginning of a new era for the Masucci brothers, aimed a reactivating the then largely dormant Fania Records label group with a plan to take Fania public. Jerry passedaway in Argentina before those plans could be realized. In 1997, Chris Blackwell again reached out to Masucci and asked him to head his new Latin music label, Island Miami. Masucci accepted.

After Blackwell departed from Island/PolyGram, Blackwell and Masucci signed a joint venture between Masucci Entertainment and Blackwell's newly formed Palm Pictures, signing Cuban artist Carlos Manuel y su Clan. Masucci was an executive producer on the album released in 2001. Masucci has recently formed Haz-Mat Entertainment and is developing film and music projects, as well as a documentary on the history of Fania Records.

Alex Masucci lives in Manhattan, New York, and has two daughters. In addition to his musical accomplishments, Alex is one of the best billiards players in New York and has competed in the World Championship three times.