Leo Tizol presenta a los Van Van en Puerto Rico y vienen pa Lehman video cortesia de Jose Rivera

Los Van Van are one of the most important and influential bands in the history of 20th century Cuban pop music. Though the 1990s were pervaded by groups that mixed folkloric and traditional sounds with the musical trends of the day and the beginning of the 21st century saw that process go even further, in the 1960s and '70s that Latino fusion sensibility was scarce at best. There were primarily two Cuban groups experimenting with mixing pop, funk, rock, and soul with their native traditions. One of those two was Irakere, and the other, far more long-lasting band was Los Van Van.
Following the revolution, Cuban youth were profiled for talents and predispositions. Children showing potential in athletics were streamlined into sports. Academics, visual arts, and music followed suit. The young musicians who formed Los Van Van had enjoyed conservatory educations from their earliest years, and were experts in theory and performance by their early twenties. The band's key players -- Juan Formell (bandleader, bass player, and songwriter), César "Pupy" Pedroso (piano, songwriter), and José Luis "Changuito" Quintana (drumset/timbales) were fascinated with the soul, go-go, and disco music that dominated U.S. radio waves. They named their dance band Los Van Van after the go-go fad, meaning literally "they go-go!"
The style that the band pioneered took its name from the cross of son and go-go music that the band had created. The style "songo" can now be found throughout the Latin jazz, pop, and fusion world. Los Van Van's debut disc bore the name, solidifying its place in musical history forever. Shortly after the band's formation, they became the island's favorite dance band, a title they held for years.
Llegó Van Van
With the support of the Cuban government, Los Van Van toured and recorded and toured tirelessly throughout the '80s and '90s. They became the best-known Cuban group in the world, maintaining a loyal fan base throughout Europe. Though there was some U.S. interest in the band and their innovations, the politics of the days hedged their ability to break into the U.S. market. While Irakere defected to States, Los Van Van never left Cuba. U.S. interest grew throughout the '90s, peaking with Los Van Van's Grammy Award in 1999 for their 15th original album, Llegó Van Van.