Juan Carlos Obituary, Death – I can’t believe this piece of terrible news. Juan-carlos Formell, you are in our thoughts and hearts forever. You are already with your father, but we will miss your wonderful sensitivity, your tenderness, your always true smile, and your incredible talent here in this world. Although you are no longer with us, we will always remember you.
May you eternally rest in peace. My deepest condolences go out to Mr. Formell and his entire family. According to the Cuban Institute of Music, bassist, guitarist, and composer Juan Carlos Formell Alfonso passed away this past Friday in New York at the age of 59 due to a heart attack that occurred during a presentation of The Van Van, which took place at the Lehman Center. A video that was taken during the performance on Friday shows the moment that the musician leaves his instrument and the stage, right before vanishing through the side curtains.
The musician then collapses to the ground and needs assistance from the support crew. Up until the point that I am writing this email, neither Los Van Van nor any member of his family has provided any kind of remark. Formell Alfonso was born in Havana in 1964, but he lived in New York City most of his life. Since 1993; Just a few years ago, he started playing bass for Los Van Van, the band that his father, the maestro Juan Formell, had created and was leading at the time his son joined.
His musical education began in Havana at the “Alejandro Garcia Caturla” and “Amadeo Roldán” conservatories, and he finished it off at the National Art School of Cuba (Escuela Nacional de Arte de Cuba). Because of his skill as an accompanist and instrumentalist, he was able to work with some of the most well-known individuals in Cuban jazz, like Emiliano Salvador, Guillermo Fragoso, and Joseto González, the director of the illustrious Rumbavana Orchestra. He also collaborated with Guillermo Fragoso.
