William Vivanco

Infobox Musical artist
Name = William Vivanco

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Img_capt = William Vivanco
Img_size = 200px
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born = 1979
Origin = cuba, Santiago
Genre = reggae, pop
Label = Bis Music

History

William Vivanco is one of today’s Cuban rising stars, known on the small island but also throughout the world. Born in 1979 in Santiago, Cuba, William Vivanco is known for his work as a composer, interpreter and musician. Initially, William Vivanco saw himself more as a plastic artist as he spent most of his time drawing but the moment he got hold of a guitar and started playing, he understood that he was born to play music. William Vivanco’s character is similar to one of a troubadour’s, in the tradition of the musician-poets who roamed around Europe in the Middle Ages. Growing up in Santiago, Vivanco drifted naturally towards music. He learned to play guitar hanging around the legendary Casa de la Trova on Calle Heredia, "stealing chords". He played in the streets for tourists and for tips. He also performed with a professional children's choir, training his voice, learning the techniques that would enable him to develop his distinctively percussive vocal style.The road out of Santiago was long for William Vivanco. He knocked around the Cuban countryside, playing day-long “romerias” and the Festival of Singers of the Americas in Guantanamo. He was 23 years old when he first came to Havana. "I took the bus from Santiago with 40 Cuban pesos in my pocket," he says. "I'll never forget it.".

The Bis Music label at the Santa Clara song festival spotted William Vivanco and offered him the possibility to make his first solo album in 2002 called “Lo Tengo to’pensao” a mix od Brazilian music, pop and reggae. The song and the video clip “Cimarron” became a hit that made William Vivanco a star. The word 'cimarron' (literally, “one who lives on mountaintops”) refers to African slaves who ran away from their Spanish masters, and the song is the story of Vivanco's personal quest for freedom. In 2006, Vivanco recorded his second solo album, “La Isla Milagrosa”, produced by Descemer Bueno and Roberto Carcassés.Vivanco has started to distance himself from his funkier, popier tunes in favour of music that is more “Santiaguera” (from Santiago), more Cuban, more rhythmic – more traditional.

Vivanco has also conquered France. First in 2003, where he performed at the “Transmusicales de Rennes” festival, then in 2004 at the “Paleo Festival de Nyon”, at the Cuban night of “Les Nuits de Fourvière” de Lyon, and in August 2005: he played at the Vence festival “les Nuits du Sud”.

Discography

* 2002 : “Lo Tengo to’pensao”
* 2006 : “La Isla Milagrosa”

References

* [http://www.havana-cultura.com/en/cuban-music/william-vivanco/cimarron.html Video interview of William Vivanco on Havana-Cultura]

External links

* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu3kJXHxCxA
* http://www.planete-aurora.com/en-vivanco/a.php
* http://www.myspace.com/williamvivanco
* http://www.nme.com/video/id/kYyewB0iMyc/search/vivanco
* http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Vivanco
* http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4by5d_william-vivanco-el-pilon_music
* http://www.cubaabsolutely.com/music/contemporary.htm