Willy Chirino
Encyclopedia
Willy Chirino, born April 5, 1947 in Consolación del Sur
Consolación del Sur
Consolación del Sur is a municipality and city in the Pinar del Río Province of Cuba. It is also called the Athens of Vueltabajo.It is located in a major rice-growing area, tobacco is also cultivated as in much of the Pinar del Río Province....

, Pinar del Río
Pinar del Río
Pinar del Río is a city in Cuba. It is the capital of Pinar del Río Province.Inhabitants of the area are called Pinareños.Neighborhoods in the city include La Conchita, La Coloma, Briones Montoto and Las Ovas.-History:...

, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...

, is an entertainer and singer in the salsa
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...

 style.

Early Family Life

His father was the town’s State Attorney and his mother was a pharmacist who worked at home. He was the only boy in his family (he had three sisters). His town did not have any crime and was very peaceful; the worst thing that happened was someone trying to steal medicine from their house. He lived a calm life in this town for fourteen years.

Chirino and the Revolution

After the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959, many Cubans fled to the United States. Some thought it was a temporary measure and hoped to return soon afterwards, but when it became apparent that the revolution was going to continue, more Cubans left the island. In 1960 Chirino came to the United States through "Operation Peter Pan
Operation Peter Pan
Operation Peter Pan , was an operation coordinated by the United States government , the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami, and certain Cubans. Between 1960 and 1962, over 14,000 children were sent from Cuba to Miami by their parents...

", designed to get Cuban children out of the country due to, among other things, fears that the government would take them from their parents. This US government sponsored program, in conjunction with the Catholic Welfare Bureau, eventually transported approximately 14,000 Cuban children to the United States and placed them in foster homes until their parents could leave the island. Much later, Chirino would record "Nuestro Día Ya Viene Llegando" ("Our Day is Coming"), a song loosely based on his experiences as a refugee which has become an anthem for Cuban exiles everywhere.

Professional career

Chirino began his artistic career in Miami, releasing his first album in 1974. Since then, he has recorded over 20 albums, several of which have attained platinum and gold status. In 2006, his album “Son del Alma”, won a Grammy for Best Salsa/Merengue Album. As founder of the Willy Chirino Foundation, his philanthropic efforts have been recognized by UNICEF and the Department of State. He celebrated his 35th anniversary in music with his latest released album “Willy Chirino Live-35th Anniversary” (“Willy Chirino En Vivo-35 Aniversario”), a CD/DVD combo of the concert. This album brought him his first nomination for Best Salsa Album at the 2007 Latin Grammy Awards
Latin Grammy Awards
A Latin Grammy Award is an accolade by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry. Unlike the regular Grammy Award which primarily honors music produced in the United States, the Latin Grammy honors works produced anywhere around the...

. Most recently, Chirino and his wife, singer/song writer Lissette Álvarez
Lissette
Lissette Álvarez is a singer, songwriter and record producer from Peru. She is best known for recording a Spanish language version of Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" in 1985.-Early life:...

, released their first album together, Amarraditos (Bound to One Another). The CD includes a potpourri of classic Spanish-language love songs. Chirino's latest album, "Pa'lante" , was released at spring 2008, after which he launched a world tour.

His Family

His first marriage was to Olga Maria Rodriguez and produced three daughters; Angie, Olga Maria and Jessica. He later married Lissette Álvarez
Lissette
Lissette Álvarez is a singer, songwriter and record producer from Peru. She is best known for recording a Spanish language version of Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" in 1985.-Early life:...

 and had three more children- Nicole, Alana, and Gianfranco. He and his wife support the Cuban dissident movement, Yo No Coopero Con La Dictadura
Yo No Coopero Con La Dictadura
' is a civil disobedience campaign by Cuban democracy activists.The campaign, utilizes the slogan "I do want change," and is articulated in six fundamental points: "I do not repudiate, I do not assist, I do not snitch, I do not follow, I do not cooperate, and I do not repress." Furthermore, as a...

(I Don't Cooperate with the Dictatorship).

Discography

  • 1974: One man alone
  • 1975: Chirino
  • 1976: Chirino 3
  • 1977: Quien salvo la ciudad
  • 1978: Evolucion
  • 1980: Diferente
  • 1981: La salsa y yo
  • 1982: Chirinismo
  • 1983: Come into my music
  • 1984: Subiendo
  • 1985: 14 exitos
  • 1985: Zarabanda
  • 1988: Amandote
  • 1990: Acuarela del Caribe
  • 1991: Oxígeno
  • 1992: Un tipo tipico
  • 1993: South beach
  • 1995: Asere
  • 1997: Baila conmigo
  • 1998: Cuba libre
  • 2000: Greatest hits
  • 2000: Soy
  • 2001: Afrodisiac
  • 2004: Son del alma
  • 2005: Cubanismo
  • 2007: Amarraditos (with Lisette)
  • 2008: Pa'lante
  • 2011: My Beatles Heart

External links

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