FELICIDADES FORMELL!

Timba.com wants to join Cuban music fans and timberos around the world in wishing Juan Formell a very happy 70th birthday! It is hard to overestimate the importance of the role that Formell had in the development of modern Cuban popular dance music. To refresh your memory check our Los Van Van section, which contains an extensive discography as well as historical articles about Formell and his collaboration with fellow legends Changuito and César "Pupy" Pedroso. Here is a video look back at the early days with a 1974 performance of the changüí "El guararey de Pastora" followed by "La maquinaria" the title track from Van Van's 2011 CD. Felicidades Formell! We are looking forward to seeing what you do in the next 70 years!

Guararey de Pastora - 1974

La maquinaria - 2011

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Feliz cumple, Juan.....

It may be a function of my age ( I was listening to Juan on shortwave even back when he was still with Reve), but that album (their third) that included the original Llegue Llegue / El Guararey de Pastora is still my favorite of Van Van's even though they have still been giving us such a great body of work since then. I love Timba, but it's a pity that more bands didn't learn Songo too. At any rate, a remarkable career already, and it isn't over yet...

Posted by: Bill Tilford on viernes, 03 agosto 2012, 03:27 am