b. 1935, New York City, New York, USA, d. 20 December 1997, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Masucci became a police officer, meanwhile studying law and in 1960 quit the police to take up a new career. He worked for a public relations company in Havana, Cuba, where he became friendly with Johnny Pacheco, a flutist from the Dominican Republic. Masucci also developed an abiding interest in salsa and on his return to New York he became active in promoting the form in the city. There, it took hold amid the Spanish-speaking population and became hugely popular with musicians and audiences alike. Masucci and Pacheco founded Fania Records in 1964, signing to the label numerous artists, mainly of Cuban and Puerto Rican origin, many of whom were little known at the time.
Among artists recorded by Masucci in the 60s were Ray Barretto, Joe Bataan, Rubén Blades, Willie Colón, Celia Cruz, Larry Harlow, Héctor Lavoe, Ismael Miranda, and Pete ‘El Conde’ Rodríguez. Masucci also promoted salsa farther afield, in part through sending out on worldwide tours the Fania All Stars. Later, Masucci shut down the Fania label although he started up Nueva Fania in the mid-90s, recording artists such as Paulito Y Su Elite and Dan Den. In his later years, Masucci resided in several countries although mainly in Argentina.