Cuba Mourns Van Van’s Juan Formell
Photos by David Garten
HAVANA TIMES — Cuban musician Juan Formell, founder and director for more than four decades of the legendary band Los Van Van, died on Thursday, reported the evening Cuban National TV News.
Director, bassist, arranger, composer, singer, and record producer, Formell was born in Havana on August 2, 1942.
He made his first musical studies with his father Francisco Formell, flautist, pianist and arranger, and continued afterwards studying on his own.
Later his training as a composer and bass player benefitted from the guidance of renowned Cuban musicians like Felix Guerrero, Rafael Somavilla, Armando Romeu, Antonio Tano and Orestes Urfé.
Recently, in November 2013, Formell had received the Latin Grammy for Excellence, an award which involved sacrifices because of the embargo suffered by his country in the big record markets.
Juan Formell and Los Van Van received a Grammy award in 1999 for his album “Van Van is here” and they received several nominations in other editions.
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Very sad loss. Condolences to his family and friends, and to the band.