Juan Formell, the father of timba, and legendary Cuban composer, bass player and founder of Los Van Van, one of the most famous and commercially successful Cuban bands ever, passed away on the 1st May 2014 in Havana at the age of 71. In the official obituary issued in Granma, Formell was described as “one of the most important figures in Cuban musical culture in the 20th and 21st centuries”.
Juan Formell was born in Havana in 1942 into a family of musicians, and hence quickly began his professional career, playing acoustic bass in several orchestras. In the late 1960’s he became musical director of one of the most popular Cuban bands of that time – Elio Revé’s orchestra.
Most of its musicians entered later Los Van Van, a group he founded in 1969. Los Van Van in Spanish means: it will go or it will happen. And it did happen. Their music has kept salsa lovers all over the world dancing for 45 years. But why was it so captivating and so special? The secret is that Juan Formell, who conspicuously abstained from dancing himself, answered dancers' craving for a more dynamic, energetic and richer music… and that’s why he created Songo which is a mixture of Son, Rumba, Latin Jazz and Rap. Los Van Van (together with Irakere, NG La Banda) is also considered one of the main precursors of 'Timba' which draws from both international influences (rock, pop, disco, funk and hip hop) and folklore (rumba, guaguancó etc.)
What is the etymology of Timba? Aside from being a type of bread… Timbiar is an equivalent of playing or partying. With both Songo and Timba, Los Van Van’s music conquered the hearts of dancers worldwide. It has been consistently evolving and adapting its style to the times. Not only Los Van Van’s music has been innovative but also their lyrics. They never touched political issues, but usually concentrated on everyday problems faced by Cubans.
Juan Formell once said that his music is social “an example being songs like ‘Havana Can’t Take It Anymore’ and others. They’re stories that in the end have to be danceable and can’t be tedious, but of course the things that are happening in Cuba should be reflected in art.” Fragments of their lyrics such as: “eso que anda” (what goes around) or "Yo soy normal natural y un poquito acelerado" (I’m normal, natural, and move a little fast) are quoted by Cubans in their everyday conversations. Los Van Van’s music has influenced well-known salsa singers such as Ruben Blades or Gilberto Santa Rosa, sold out concerts annually in Europe and Asia.
Until 1997 Juan Formell and his band didn’t perform in the USA due to the political tensions. In 2013 the Latin Recording Academy in Miami awarded him a lifetime achievement Grammy for “artistic excellence.” Los Van Van included many talented musicians such as José Luis ‘El Tosco’ Cortés, Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso, Pedro Calvo, Angel Bonne and Changuito. Juan Formell has also involved in the group his sons Samuel and Juan-Carlos and daughters Vanessa and Paloma. In recent years it was Samuel who has been in charge of live performances.
The father still continued to supervise recordings. At the time of his death he was finishing a new CD, which will be released this summer! Juan Formell died… yet his music is still alive and it still brings happiness into lives of many people all around the world. Aquí no hay fallo Porque yo traigo ¡uy! El toque del año
