Yolo Bonilla, the troubadour, dies in Italy

July 8, 2020

Yolepsis Echeverría Bonilla, better known in the Island's musical sphere as "Yolo Bonilla", passed away on July 6th in Italy.

"Yolo was one of the most interesting voices of his generation and in recent years developed an original work sustained by experimentation with Brazilian and Caribbean rhythms based on his study and knowledge of Cuban music (…) He always moved through a very broad sonic universe that extended the concepts of trova and allowed him to venture into different rhythms and cultures, an attitude toward music that completely defined his career", wrote journalist Michel Hernández on Facebook.

According to the communicator's explanation, Bonilla lived through a complex emotional period during the final years of his life in the European nation.

Yolo's death is a hard blow for many troubadours, colleagues, and friends of his generation.

Bonilla, a native of La Habana, under the influences of jazz, began his career in 1992. However, as the years went by he became increasingly attracted to Brazilian rhythms and literature. In fact, many of his songs were written in Portuguese. At the same time, he built a trajectory as a designer and audiovisual producer.

In 2012 his album Yolinho Habaneiro was nominated for the Cubadisco award. This was an innovative work in Cuban music since before some isolated songs had been recorded but not an entire album in Portuguese with classics from our Cuban music. He made the album while respecting each composer's style, some pieces are from the 30s or 40s of the past century and the essence was maintained.

Anthological pieces such as "La tarde" by Sindo Garay; "Vete de mí", by Los Hermanos Expósito and which was popularized by Bola de Nieve; "Dos gardenias" by Isolina Carrillo; "20 años" by María Teresa Vera; "Suavecito" by Ignacio Piñeiro; "El camisón de Pepa" by Compay Segundo; "Todos los ojos te miran" by Pablo Milanés; "El viento eres tú" by Silvio Rodríguez; "Regrésamelo todo" by Raúl Torres were the songs chosen by the troubadour.

Winner in 2012 of the Cubadisco award in the versions category with his album "Yolinho habaneiro, where he performs in Portuguese classics of our music with arrangements that leave us speechless. Yolo is a doctor and troubadour who has drawn from Brazilian music, which implies a command of the guitar and a bossa air when singing that gives him a peculiar charm.