Willy Chirino (born April 5, 1947 in Consolación del Sur, Pinar del
RÃo, Cuba) is a Cuban-American musician.After the Cuban Revolution in
January 1959, many Cubans fled to the United States. Some thought it
was a temporary measure and hoped to return soon afterwards, but when
it became apparent that the revolution was going to continue, more
Cubans left the island. In 1960, Willy Chirino came to the United
States via "Operation Peter Pan", designed to get Cuban children out
of the country due to, among other things, fears that the government
would take them from their parents. This US government sponsored
program, in conjunction with the Catholic Welfare Bureau, sent
approximately 14,000 Cuban children to the United States and placed
them in foster homes until their parents could leave the island.
Chirino would later record "Nuestro DÃa Ya Viene Llegando" ("Our Day
is Coming"), a song loosely based on his experiences as a refugee
which has become an anthem for Cuban exiles everywhere.Chirino began
his artistic career in Miami, releasing his first album in 1974. Since
then, he has recorded over 20 albums, several of which have attained
platinum and gold status. In 2006, his album "Son del Alma", won a
Grammy for Best Salsa/Merengue Album. As founder of the Willy Chirino
Foundation, his philanthropic efforts have been recognized by UNICEF
and the Department of State. He celebrated his 35th anniversary in
music with his latest released album "Willy Chirino Live-35th
Anniversary" ("Willy Chirino En Vivo-35 Aniversario"), a CD/DVD combo
of the concert. This album brought him his first nomination for Best
Salsa Album at the 2007 Latin Grammy Awards. Most recently, Chirino
and his wife, singer/songwriter Lissette à lvarez, released their
first album together, Amarraditos (Bound to One Another). The CD
includes a potpourri of classic Spanish-language love songs. Chirino's
album, "Pa'lante", was released at spring 2008, after which he
launched a world tour. In 2011, when asked of how his recordings of My
Beatles Heart, he said that Sony scrutinized every single one of his
songs and their versions because they consider the songs by The
Beatles as one of their most precious treasures, and wanted to make
sure they were being used in a rightful manner.In 2014, Chirino
received a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in Las Vegas for
his music career.
RÃo, Cuba) is a Cuban-American musician.After the Cuban Revolution in
January 1959, many Cubans fled to the United States. Some thought it
was a temporary measure and hoped to return soon afterwards, but when
it became apparent that the revolution was going to continue, more
Cubans left the island. In 1960, Willy Chirino came to the United
States via "Operation Peter Pan", designed to get Cuban children out
of the country due to, among other things, fears that the government
would take them from their parents. This US government sponsored
program, in conjunction with the Catholic Welfare Bureau, sent
approximately 14,000 Cuban children to the United States and placed
them in foster homes until their parents could leave the island.
Chirino would later record "Nuestro DÃa Ya Viene Llegando" ("Our Day
is Coming"), a song loosely based on his experiences as a refugee
which has become an anthem for Cuban exiles everywhere.Chirino began
his artistic career in Miami, releasing his first album in 1974. Since
then, he has recorded over 20 albums, several of which have attained
platinum and gold status. In 2006, his album "Son del Alma", won a
Grammy for Best Salsa/Merengue Album. As founder of the Willy Chirino
Foundation, his philanthropic efforts have been recognized by UNICEF
and the Department of State. He celebrated his 35th anniversary in
music with his latest released album "Willy Chirino Live-35th
Anniversary" ("Willy Chirino En Vivo-35 Aniversario"), a CD/DVD combo
of the concert. This album brought him his first nomination for Best
Salsa Album at the 2007 Latin Grammy Awards. Most recently, Chirino
and his wife, singer/songwriter Lissette à lvarez, released their
first album together, Amarraditos (Bound to One Another). The CD
includes a potpourri of classic Spanish-language love songs. Chirino's
album, "Pa'lante", was released at spring 2008, after which he
launched a world tour. In 2011, when asked of how his recordings of My
Beatles Heart, he said that Sony scrutinized every single one of his
songs and their versions because they consider the songs by The
Beatles as one of their most precious treasures, and wanted to make
sure they were being used in a rightful manner.In 2014, Chirino
received a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in Las Vegas for
his music career.
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