Vicente Feliú Dies While Performing La Bayamesa

December 18, 2021

One of the most prominent symbols of Cuban music, Vicente Feliú, passed away this Friday, December 17, while beginning to sing at the Museum of Music in Havana, which was to be his first complete concert after the pandemic. Feliú suffered a massive heart attack that ended his life.

He left "guitar in hand" Spanish coordinator Joaquín Recio, a great friend of the musician, commented after learning the sad news: "We said goodbye to his brother Santiago a few years ago, and he died playing the piano. Vicente has also gone guitar in hand, in full action, in full life, and although he was already over 70 years old we cannot believe his death, it was like a lightning bolt. Our biggest embrace and affection to Aurora, mother and daughter and to the entire family. He will always be our most beloved Cuban singer-songwriter for our cooperative. Now it's time to cry and say goodbye to him as he deserves, listening to his music, forever, eternal".

A self-taught committed artist

He learned to play guitar from his father, and simultaneously began composing in 1964, in an intuitive and necessary way, when he was in secondary school. In those years other young people in different parts of Cuban geography were discovering social experiences and song at the same time, and years later, in 1972, they would form what became known as the Nueva Trova movement.

He was one of its most representative voices along with Pablo Milanés, Silvio Rodríguez, Noel Nicola, Lázaro García and Augusto Blanca, among others.

Vicente worked for fifteen years in the organization holding different responsibilities including the presidency. He was the older brother of singer-songwriter Santiago Feliú (1962-2014).

Among the best singer-songwriters, Feliú performed in more than 20 countries in the Americas, Europe and Africa, and shared stages with numerous singers, among whom are Silvio Rodríguez, Pablo Milanés and the talented Liuba María Hevia (Cuba), to whom he confessed without hesitation "Liuba...that is a verse I will envy you for forever," the verse is: "Without your love life is delayed," Luis Eduardo Aute and Caco Senante (Spain), Isabel Parra and Inti Illimani (Chile), León Gieco and Mercedes Sosa (Argentina), Gabino Palomares (Mexico), Jackson Browne, Pete Seeger, Holly Near and Little Steven (United States), Daniel Viglietti and Alfredo Zitarrosa (Uruguay), and Luis Enrique and Carlos Mejía Godoy (Nicaragua).

Versatile artist He composed music for theatrical works, television and performances and collaborated in cultural programs as an assistant director and musical director. He was an adviser on music for Cuban radio and television and a scriptwriter, radio announcer and radio director. At the time of his death, he was directing the cultural center Canto de Todos, which promotes meetings and exchanges, through song, in Ibero-American countries.