Van Van will begin their US tour shortly

April 27, 2022

Los Van Van, the emblematic Cuban salsa orchestra, will begin their tour this week through various cities in the United States such as San Diego, San Francisco, Houston, New York, Miami and Orlando.

"VANVANEROS, this is what's coming now. Spreading El SONGO throughout the USA. April 30. San Juan/ Puerto Rico. May 1. San Diego/ California. May 6. San Francisco/ California. May 7. Houston/ Texas. May 12. Virginia. May 13. New York. May 14. New Jersey. May 20. Miami/ Florida. May 21. Orlando/ Florida", the orchestra posted on its Facebook profile.

"The train of Cuban music" will perform in Miami at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, in Pembroke Pines, while in Orlando it will perform at its well-known Hard Rock Café. The orchestra offered a farewell presentation at the Havana bar 2,45, owned by Olympic and world champion Javier Sotomayor.

The 17-member orchestra celebrated its five decades of being founded in 2019 with a world tour that included the U.S. Miami was one of the strongholds of that presentation, as well as California, New York and Washington.

Los Van Van, winner of the Grammy Award for Best Salsa Album (Llegó Van Van, 1999) and several gold and platinum records with each of its albums, has been a school for great singers of Cuban music, such as Pedrito Calvo and Mayito Rivera, and musicians of the caliber of César "Pupy" Pedroso.

Its current director is Samuel Formell, son of the late founder, Juan Formell. Regarding the 2019 tour, Samuel avoided speaking against the regime. Thus, he stated: "since we are not politicians, we try to stay away from that, trying to make our music".

"We will always support the people, whoever they may be, whatever they think, whatever ideology they defend always with the utmost respect, let us not forget that we are Cuban", the orchestra published on its social networks.

"We support the thousands of Cubans who demand their rights, we must be heard. Let us say no to violence and abuse. Let us call for peace in our streets", they added in their statement.