Juan Formell
Juan Climaco Formell Cortina (2 August 1942 – 1 May 2014) was a Cuban bassist, composer, and arranger, best known as the director of Los Van Van. He was a creator of popular danceable music and credited with bringing electronic instrumentation into the Cuban musical form. His full name was Juan Clímaco (John Climacus) Formell Cortina.
Also recorded as Juan Clímaco Formell Fortuna · Juan Climaco Formell Fortuna · Juan Climaco Formell Cortina
Juan Formell
- Name
- Juan Formell
- Birth Name
- Juan Clímaco Formell Cortina
- Born
- 2 August 1942
- Birthplace
- Havana, Cuba
- Died
- 1 May 2014
- Occupation
- Singer-songwriter, composer, arranger
- Nationality
- Cuba
- Fields
- salsa · world music
- Honours
- Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
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Documentary summary
Juan Climaco Formell Cortina (2 August 1942 – 1 May 2014) was a Cuban bassist, composer, and arranger, best known as the director of Los Van Van. He was a creator of popular danceable music and credited with bringing electronic instrumentation into the Cuban musical form. His full name was Juan Clímaco (John Climacus) Formell Cortina.
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Authority files
wikidata · Q711988 · wikipedia · Juan Formell
In this article
Biography
Biography
His professional activity started in 1957 as musician of cabaret orchestras, radio and television. In 1959 he worked as bassist of Musical Band of Revolutionary Police. He died of liver disease at the age of 71 in 2014.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Juan Formell • Birth Name — Juan Clímaco Formell Cortina • Genre — Salsa music • Born — 2 August 1942 • Birthplace — Havana, Cuba • Died — 1 May 2014 • Place of death — Havana, Cuba • Instrument — Bass • Occupation — Singer-songwriter, composer, arranger • Years Active — 1957–2014
Places
Named by the record
Places
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Cuba.
Birth place
Havana.
Death place
Awards
In 1999, Juan Formell received a Grammy Award (Latin/Best Salsa Performance) for his work on the album "Llegó... Van Van – Van Van Is Here", recorded at Abdala Studios.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Muere Juan Fornell
- 2.Ficha Juan Fornell en EcuRed
- 3.Frances R. Aparicio y Cándida F. Jaquez (editores): Musical migrations: transnationalism and cultural hybridity in Latin America (volume 1). Palgrave Macmillan, 2003.
- 4.Walter Clark: From tejano to tango: essays on latin american popular music (perspectives in global pop). Routledge, 2002.
- 5.Charley D. Gerard: Music from Cuba: Mongo Santamaría, Chocolate Armenteros and other stateside cuban musicians. Westport (Connecticut): Greenwood Press, 2001.
- 6.«Biografía de Juan Formell y los Van Van», en el sitio web AMS (América Salsa).
- 7.Juan Formell, artículo en el sitio web Ecured.
- 8.Murió Juan Formell, director de la orquesta Los Van Van.
- 9.https://www.elmundo.es/cultura/2014/05/02/5362fac522601d8c418b4572.html| Fallece el músico cubano Juan Formell, fundador de 'Los Van Van'
References
Citations
References
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reference work
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Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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