Miercoles Musical: Los Van Van

Los Van Van is one of Cuba’s best-known musical groups and they have been described by one source as “Cuba’s most popular dance band.” Over the weekend they performed in Miami for the first time since violence erupted outside of a 1999 gig. Sunday’s performance was a lot more peaceful as 400 protestors demonstrated outside of the James L. Knight Center while concertgoers enjoyed Van Van singer Mario ``Mayito'' Rivera declaration that “all Cubans are my brothers.”

The Van Van gig may by symbolic of the changing attitudes among generations of the Cuban exile community in the U.S. As was reported by the Miami Herald:

Certainly, many in the community still oppose visits by Cuban groups. Callers to hardline exile radio talk shows have complained about Van Van billboards and ads.

But Al Fuentes, program director for music station El Zol 95 (WXDJ 95.7FM), part of the Cuban-American-owned, Miami-based SBS radio chain, says the calls he's been getting about the Van Van songs he's played for several months only ask for more.

``People who have come in the last 15, 20 years tell me there's this group Los Van Van, and they're great,'' Fuentes says. ``Great music is great music.''

Why is it, he asks, ``that we can have the Olympics in China, and we can't have a great Cuban band come here?''

Politics aside, we’ll invite you to listen for yourself and enjoy a taste of Los Van Van’s music:

Online Sources- Wikipedia, Miami New Times, ABC News, Miami Herald, YouTube