Homage to Juan Formell all over Cuba
The main concert was held at Havana’s Anti-imperialist Tribune, where popular orchestras, bands, singers and performers in general joined Cubans to pay homage to Formell, the director of the legendary band Los Van Van, whose former members also participated. Versions of famous compositions by Formell were performed by Cuban musicians, such as renowned pianist Frank Fernández, the children’s theater company La Colmenita, and salsa bands, to the tune of which people who attended the concerts danced.
Juan Formell passed away unexpectedly on Thursday at the age of 71. In 1969 Formell set up Los Van Van, later baptized as “the train of Cuban music”, directed the group until he died and recorded 30 albums, one of which Llegó Van Van (Van Van is here), took home a Granmy Award in 1999. Experts consider Los Van Van as the Los Beatles of Cuban music, and Formell, as the leader of a revolution in popular Cuban dancing music when he created “”songo”, a genre whose basis is Cuban “son”.
Commentaries
- Cuban historian: the public debate is a fundamental step in any constitutional reform process
- Cuban media follows closely the public debate on the draft Constitution
- Fidel Castro: “I'm not important. It is the six million Cubans back home that follow this visit who matter to me"
- Eusebio Leal: the public debate on the draft of constitution allows for advancing towards a stronger, more united nation
- Cuban-American: our participation in the constitutional reform process can help us find the way to talk with just one voice
- Cuban-Americans need to put pressure on their senators and congresspeople to change U.S.-policy towards Cuba
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