The Legend of Juan Formell y los Van Van

11 August 2016 8:38pm

On Friday, August 19, Artex’s Fresa y Chocolate Cultural Center will host the launch of a book entitled Juan Formell y los Van Van: La Leyenda, by Ediciones Cubanas, also an Artex company.

The rollout – which pays tribute to this great Cuban musician (August 2, 1942 – May 1, 2014), renovator of Revé band’s sound back in the 1960s, creator and founder of the band that has moved most of foreigners and Cuban people to the dance floor – will be attended by all of the members of Los Van Van.

Since the very first performance of this Cuban band, there was a man that put his smart money on it and has followed it to date, Rafael Lam, a chronicler, journalist and author of the book. Ciro Bianchi said that "he is the ultimate chronicler of Cuban music."

According to Lam, Formell told his friends he was planning to write his memories, anecdotes, developments, moments that were recorded on his mind.

Sadly, the undisputable leader of popular dance music in Cuba ran out of time to do it…

That’s how Cuban writer Rafael Lam’sJuan Formell y los Van Van: La Leyenda came up. The book puts together the memories of one of Cuba’s greatest musicians, and everything related to his life and work. The book engulfs opinions issued by every musician and singer that performed with the band.

Notes, press clippings and memories shed light on different aspects of a meteorically ascending career: a musical “machinery”.

Readers will feel the versatility and talent of the leader of Los Van Van, valuable information on the Decalogue of the popular music band director, biographical details of the band’s musicians; as well as testimonies on Formell’s life and his thoughts about Cuba and Havana.

The book will be sold at Artex stores in Havana and across the country.

About the author:

Rafael Lam, Havana(1946). Chronicler, journalist and writer. He has been writer for Cuban radio, TV and press since 1978. His chronicles have been published on such Cuban newspapers and magazines as Granma, Bohemia, Cartelera, Tribuna de La Habana and El Habanero; he has collaborated with Granma Internacional, Cuba Internacional and Prensa Latina, among other agencies. Lam is a member of UNEAC and UPEC. The list of books he has published comprises La Bodeguita del Medio, Tropicana, un Paraíso bajo las Estrellas, Esta es la Música Cubana, Polvo de Estrellas (Cuban Singers) two volumes. Los Reyes de la Salsa. To be published: La Habana 500 años: Maravilla del Mundo. Other future titles are Benny Moré, el Símbolo de la Música Cubana, El Imperio de la Música Cubana, Buena Vista Social Club y el Son Cubano, Historia de Famosas Canciones Cubanas.