Orlando Cantó

Cuban flutist Orlando Cantó was the founder of the Cuban orchestra Los Van Van where he remained since 1969.

He was part of the orchestras Transformación, Riviera and the Revé orchestra, from where he joined Los Van Van together with Juan Formell.

With the Tren de Cuba he stayed until 1995, the year he retired, although he maintained excellent relationships with all the members of the orchestra, especially with Maestro Juan Formell, of whom he was an excellent friend.

Upon retiring, the musician released several solo albums. The first ones, titled El Swing del viejo Espigón and Descarga Bailable, were described as an "authentic demonstration of his virtuosity on the flute with a format closer to Cuban-Jazz, in which guitar, flute and vocals play a predominant role".

His third solo production was called "Sigo siendo un Van Van", and in it he returned to the style of the orchestra in which he developed most of his career. On that album he worked with singers Tirso Duarte (ex Charanga Habanera, NG La Banda, Pupy y los que Son), Mandy "Charanga" Cantero (Pupy y los que Son, Charanga Forever), Ricardo Morales (Orquesta Revé, Havana City), Barbarito López (Sonora Gloria Matancera) and José Miguel Meléndez (Irakere).

"El viejo espigón" or the Major Flute as Pedrito Calvo (vocalist of Los Van Van) named him, passed away at the age of 82 in La Habana.