Los Van Van

Date of foundation: 1969
Place of foundation: Cuba

 
Los Van Van - led by Juan Formell - is one of the best known Cuban groups internationally. They have a strong influence from contemporary Cuban music, combining traditional and folkloric elements with musical trends.

Using a charanga line-up as its base, Los Van Van pioneered using trombones and vocals, and was the first Cuban group to use synthesizers and drum machines. Their sound was a fusion of changui and son montuno with various types of music genres such as Afro-Cuban rhythms, rock, funk, disco, and hip hop.”

As the pioneers of Timba music they won a Grammy Award in 1999 for their album “Llegó Van Van”.

Members:

    * Mario Valdes,
    * Jesus Linares,
    * Alvaro Collado,
    * Edmondo Pina,
    * Pedro Calvo,
    * César Pedroso,
    * Mario "Mayito" Rivera,
    * Angel Bonne,
    * Juliol Noroña,
    * Israel Kantor,
    * Fernando Leyva,
    * Orlando Canto,
    * Hugo Morejon,
    * Juan Formell,
    * Manuel Labarrera,
    * Roberto Hernandez,
    * Gerardo Miro

Discography:

1969            Los Van Van Vol I
1974            Los Van Van Vol II
1974            Los Van Van Vol III
1976            Los Van Van Vol IV
1976            Los Van Van Vol V
1980            Los Van Van Vol VI
1982            Báilalo ¡Eh! ¡Ah!
1983            Qué Pista
1984            Anda, Ven y Muévete
1994            25 Años... y seguimos ahí! Vol I
1985            La Habana Sí
1986            Eso Que Anda
1987            La Titimania
1988            Songo
1988            El Negro No Tiene Na'
1989            Songo
1989            Rico Son
1990            Aqui... El Que Baila Gana
1991            Esto Está Bueno
1991            De Cuba Los Van Van
1993            Bailando Mojao - Dancing Wet 
1993            Azúcar (Xenophile Records)
1994            Lo Ultimo En Vivo
1996            ¡Ay Dios, Ampárame!
1997            Live In America
1997            Te Pone La Cabeza Mala
1999            Llegó Van Van
2003            En El Malecón De La Habana
2005            Chapeando
2009            Live From Camagüey
2009            Arrasando

by Zsuzsa Melkvi

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About the Author: Zsuzsa Melkvi is a salsa dancer and teacher, having competed in Latin-American and Standard dances from 1995-1998. She is also the founder of Baila Cuba (www.bailacuba.hu), a Dance company focused on giving exclusively pure Afro-Cuban workshops in Hungary. Zsuzsa holds a BA degree in Economics from the University of Hertfordshire.