Harvey Averne begins most days with a bialy and whitefish salad. He watches “Morning Joe,” plays with his cat, Coco Baby, and fields calls from Latin music legends like Joe Bataan at his eclectic but tidy Woodhaven, Queens apartment. Averne is one of the last of the Latin music giants: a Jewish kid from East New York who had a hand in the development of Latin music, from the borscht belt to boogaloo and salsa. “I didn’t understand a word they’re saying, but that’s OK — you don’t understand a word in the opera.”As a producer, manager and musician, Averne has a storied history behind the scenes at some of New York’s biggest Latin music labels. At his own Coco Records, which released Latin jazz and salsa, Averne’s work with the pianist Eddie Palmieri earned the first two Grammy Awards for Latin music.

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Persons: Harvey Averne, ”, Coco Baby, Joe Bataan, Celia Cruz —, Averne, ” Averne, “, Willie Colón, Larry Harlow, Ralfi Pagan, Ray Barretto, Eddie Palmieri Organizations: East New, Fania Records, Coco Records Locations: Woodhaven, Queens, East, East New York