Cuban pianist, arranger and composer César “Pupy” Pedroso died this Sunday in Havana at the age of 75, the Cuban Institute of Music confirmed to the official press, without specifying the causes of his death.
Twitter: Cubarte
HAVANA
Cuban pianist, arranger and composer César “Pupy” Pedroso died this Sunday in Havana at the age of 75, the Cuban Institute of Music confirmed to the official press, without specifying the causes of his death.
“Puppy”, one of the best-known figures in the island’s popular dance music scene, was a member of different groups during his long career, such as Fascinación, Sensación, Revé and the Conjunto Bolero. However, her fame took off when she founded the Los Van Van orchestra together with Juan Formell in 1969.
It was in that group -from which he separated in 2001- where he starred in great successes such as “El Negro está cocinando”, “Disco Azúcar”, “Temba, tumba, timba”, “El Buena Gente”, among others. Many of the group’s hits were authored by him.
In Los Van Van, possibly the most famous orchestra of its time, he created, together with Formell and percussionist José Luis Quintana, the rhythm known as songo, a derivative of the traditional Cuban son that mixes genres such as funk and jazz.
After separating from the Van Van at the beginning of the century, Pedroso founded a new group: Pupy y los que Son, Son, which he directed until his death. Last year they released their most recent album, “Re-percusión”.
The president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, lamented the death of the pianist in a message from his Twitter account.
“Cuba mourns today the death of César Pupy Pedroso, one of the greatest musicians that this sonera land has produced. In this moment of pain he sends a hug to his family and friends. We are left with his work and all the happiness that it brought us with it, ”wrote the president.
In the same way, Alpidio Alonso Grau, Minister of Insular Culture, joined in, adding: “Hard blow for Cuban Culture: César Pupi Pedroso, a great figure of our popular music, has just passed away. National Music Award, his work will endure in the taste and memory of the people, who always distinguished him as an artist. My condolences to his family and friends.”
So far the cause of his death is unknown, but the multi-state channel Telesur pointed out that it was a complication following cardiovascular surgery.
The musician’s family reported in May that “Pupy” was in the process of recovery following “a surgical operation that cannot be postponed, in view of a trip and especially a European journey of more than 20 concerts.”
Pedroso, who composed more than 150 songs in his professional career, won the National Music Award in 2013.
This story was originally published on July 17, 2022 6:18 p.m.