HISTORY
Los Van Van, is led by Juan Formell, a bassist who in 1967 became musical director of Orquesta Revé, a group that included pianist, Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso. Formell reformatted the group into Changui in 1968, before founding his own group, Los Van Van.
Using a charanga line-up as its base, Van Van added trombones and vocals, and was the first Cuban group to use synthesizers and drum machines. Juan Formell contributed countless innovations to the Cuban bass and clave, which paved the way for a radical rethink of rhythmic arrangements in Cuban music. The Van Van sound became known as songo (based on the songo rhythm), which laid the foundation for the later development of timba. Songo is also the Yoruba name for Chango (See the lyrics to Soy Todo).
The departure of Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso in January 2002 to form his own group, and singers, Pedrito "Pedro" Calvo and Angel Bonne, to pursue solo careers by 2001, marked the end of an era for the band, although Angel Bonne continues to make guest appearances on some Los Van Van recordings. However, the impact of these departures would have been very traumatic had the band not been strengthened a few years earlier with the addition of Mario "Mayito" Riviera (lead on Temba, timba y tumba) and Roberto "Guayacán" Hernández (lead on “Ven, ven, ven”). Further additions have also strengthened the line-up, including Abdel "Lele" Rasalps (lead singer on Anda ven y quiéreme), and the first female member in their history, Yenisel “Yenny” Valdés, who had previously sung with NG La Banda for several years.
Another key band member of Los Van Van has to be Formell's son, Samuel, who had replaced the legendary Changuíto, who left to pursue a solo career in Latin Jazz. To some fans, one of the biggest thrills of seeing Van Van (sometimes referred to as "El Tren") live is watching Samuel dominate the drum set.
Today, Los Van Van is still going strong and with the release of their latest album, Chapeando, in December 2004, the band looks set to remain at the forefront of Cuban music for years to come.

CURRENT BAND MEMBERS ARE:
Juan Formell – Musical Director and Bass
Samuel Formell - Drums, Percussion
Mario "Mayito" Rivera – Lead/ Backing vocals
Roberto"Guayacan" Hernandez - Lead/Backing Vocals
Yenisel "Yenny" Valdés – Lead/Backing Vocals
Abdel "Lele" Rasalps – Lead/Backing Vocals
Hugo Morejón – Trombone and Organ
Roberto"Cucurucho” Carlos Rodriguez - Piano
Jorge Leliebre – Flute and Backing Vocals
Boris Luna – Keyboard
Alvaro Collado - Trombone
Edmundo "Mundo" Pina - Trombone and percussion pads
Pedro Fajardo - Violin
Irving Frontela – Violin and Viola
Pavel Molina - Bass
Julio Noroña - Guiro
Manuel Labarrera - Congas
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Soy Todo (I Am Everything)
This song is based on a poem by the Cuban poet, Eloy “El Ambia” Machado, and made into music by Los Van Van. This song/poem is rooted in Santeria (i) , which is a syncretistic religion of Caribbean origin. It incorporates the worship of Orishas (literally “head guardians”), emissaries through which Olorun (ii) interacts with the world. The beliefs and traditions of this religion originate from the Yoruba and Bantu people of Southern Nigeria, Senegal and Guinea Coast. These beliefs and traditions are combined with elements of worship from Roman Catholicism.

NOTES

i. Santeria is also known as Lukumí.
ii. Olorun is the sky Father (though occasionally androgynous or female), and a god of peace, purity and harmony. He is strongly associated with the colour white and controls everything that is white, such as bones, the brain and clouds.
iii. Danzón: The official music of Cuba, which originates from a European-influenced ballroom dance played by Cuban ensembles.
iv. Solar is often a building or a big house dilapidated into many dwellings, as well as a slum.
v. Chango (Songo in Yoruba) - ruler of lightning and thunder. He is also a warrior and is well known for his many wives. He demands involvement in life and living life to the full. He deals with the day-to-day challenges. His colours are red and white and his numbers are 4 and 6.
vi.Obatala - father of the Orishas and all humanity. He is the creator of the world and enforces justice in the world. He is the source of all that is pure, wise, peaceful, ethical, moral and compassionate. His colour is white, as he contains all colours, but is above them all; his number is 8. He is also the son of Olorun.
vii. Yemaya - rules over seas and lakes. She is the Mother of all and the root of all riches. She is deep and unknowable, like the waters she rules. She is also the queen of witches and of secrets. She is considered the Orisha of mercy, as she never turns her back on her children. Her saint is Our Lady of Regla, the patron Saint of Havana's port. Her colours are blue and white and her number is 7.

viii. Ogun - the god of iron, war, and labour. He clears the roads with his machete after Elegba opens them. He embodies violence, creativity and integrity. He is the only Orisha with the right to control life and death. His colours are green and black and his number is 7.
ix. Elegba (Eleggua) - the owner of the roads and doors in this world. He stands at the crossroads of humanity and the divine, the intermediary between Olorun and the Orisha and humans. When one wants to pray, they call on Elegba first, as he opens the doors of communication between this world and the Orisha. Nothing can be done in either world without his permission. The Catholic saint he represents is Saint Anthony. His colours are red and black and his number is 3.
x. Unsure of the full meaning, although in Yoruba, Obba (Oba) is a King.
xi. Dignitaries of Abakuá are responsible for sacrifices. See notes xvii.
xii. He works with Obatala, and moves the hearts of the world towards peace. He lives in the forests and can also be found in the hills and valleys. He helps to take away desperation, anxiety, stress, lack of motivation and anger. He dislikes fighting or people not respecting each other. He brings enemies together through understanding, helps to settle disputes and brings back a stronger love to couples that have hurt or fallen out with each other.
xiii. Fortune-teller, who is also known as Ifá.
xiv. A type of rumba. See notes xvii.
xv. A double-headed drum shaped like an hourglass.
xvi. A follower of Santeria.
xvii. Abakua or Abakuá is a men's secret society, which originates in what is now Nigeria, within the Negbe people of the Calabar region, and was brought to Cuba during the slave trade. The rhythmic dance music of the Abakuá can also be traced to one of Cuba's musical traditions, the rumba. Abakuá members derive their culture from the Efik and Efo of the Cross River Delta in Nigeria. The Calle family of Efo origin supposedly invented the guaguanco, a type of rumba. Eloy Machado is a prominent member of Abakuá