Flowers from the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro and President Raúl Castro were placed next to the popular musician’s ashes, displayed for public viewing, May 2, in the lobby of the National Theatre, in Havana. Miguel Díaz-Canel, first Vice President of the Councils of State and Ministers signed the book of condolences during the tribute. Many of the country’s best groups participated in a musical tribute, held at the José Martí Anti-imperialist Tribunal, May 3.

The news hit national culture hardest: Juan Formell, the legendary director, bassist, arranger, composer and singer of Los Van Van, died suddenly May 1, in a Havana hospital. He was 71 years of age and had dedicated his entire life to making music which was spiritually enriching and entertaining.

According to his son Samuel Formell, speaking with EFE, Formell died as a result of complications associated with a liver condition which had led to his hospitalization the previous week. "In all honesty, his liver wasn’t functioning properly, it was bleeding, his hemoglobin levels were low," commented Samuel, one of the artist’s children. "I still can’t believe it. Yesterday (Wednesday) evening he was listening to music with me, but later he got worse."

The Cuban Institute of Music organized a May 3 Cantata for Formell, with artists from a great variety of genres participating.

Formell was born in Havana on August 2, 1942. His first music lessons were with his father, Francisco Formell. In his development as a composer and bassist he received instruction from prestigious musicians such as Félix Guerrero, Rafael Somavilla, Armando Romeu, Antonio Taño and Orestes Urfé.

During his professional career he worked with various groups, including Pedro Jústiz (Peruchín) and Guillermo Rubalcaba’s bands and Carlos Faxas’ group, where he began as conductor and composer of songs such as, "Y ya lo sé", "De mis recuerdos", "Lo material" and "Yo soy tu luz", sung by Elena Burke.

Important to his artistic development was his work with Orquesta Revé in 1967, where he made original stylistic and structural contributions to Cuban music, such as the use of the electric bass guitar and keyboard instead of the stand-up bass and acoustic piano; the rhythmic treatment and acoustic amplification of violins; substituting the flute and drums system for a flute with 5 keys and timbales (kettledrums) and three-voice vocals rather than unison, among others. Creations such as "El martes", "Yuya Martínez", "Qué bolá, qué bollón", "La flaca", "Te lo gastaste todo" and "El jueves", are some of the most illustrative of that period. During those years he continued to work with Elena Burke, resuming the practice of performing her songs with just a guitar, as he had done in his first performances when he was still amateur singer.

At the end of 1969, he created Los Van Van, with whom his creative work continued and expanded, allowing him to take maximum advantage of son’s expressive resources. This experience led to the creation of songo, the name he and José Luis Quintana (Changuito) gave to a new rhythm, which became decisive in their later creations. In 1981 he included trombones in his charanga to reinforce his band’s central register. Formell and his orchestra recorded numerous albums at EGREM and other recording studios and received a Grammy Award in 1999, for their album "Llegó… Van Van" (Van Van is here).

In March 2010 he received the an honorary degree from the Higher Institute of Art, in recognition of his contributions to Cuban culture and in particular his extensive work as band leader for the most important popular music dance group in Cuba. Furthermore, in 2013, the Latin Recording Academy honored him with a Grammy Special Award for Musical Excellence, in honor of "artists that have made important creative contributions during their careers." The Academy said of him, "Juan Formell is the true definition of a musical innovator."

Upon receiving the award, Formell said, "My life has been eternally blessed by music and it only makes sense when people make it their own and enjoy it. In the artistic sphere I have received various awards, among them the National Music Award, which fills me with pride. I thank the Latin Academy for this gesture of recognition, in particular because acknowledgment of this kind not only strengthens my work and the work of Los Van Van in this hemisphere, but also that of the vanguard of Cuban music". (Cubadebate)

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