Reporting by Rafael Lam, APWW Havana Correspondent
Translation by Amber Shavers

Compay Segundo, the news of the month.

The Compay Segundo press conference made headlines on the night of June 13th. During the press conference, held at the Hotel Nacional, Compay stated that he would continue to perform well into the twenty-first century. He also commented on his hopes of reaching the ripe age of one hundred and being ready for more music. After the conference he was followed by the Orequesta Jorrín, the charanga that invented cha cha chá.

Celina, the Queen of Campesino music recovers.

Celina González is recovering from a cerebral aneurysm. On June 2nd, she received an award from the Fernando Ortiz foundation. She closed the ceremony by singing "Yo soy el punto Cubano". The songstress attended the event in a wheelchair and was accompanied by her son Reutilio Jr. She is currently recovering in a Havana hospital.

El Charangón de Revé turns 45.

The Revé orchestra turned 45 years old and celebrated their milestone with a tour of Cuba. Revé's son Elito promises to faithfully continue the musical vibrancy of his father, affectionately known as Charangón Changuisero. At La Loma del Chivo (Goat Hill) in Guatanamo, Revé's birthplace, the local community built a monument dedicated to "Papá Eleguá" Revé. Concert footage from the tour was broadcasted on international television stations. Fans were also treated to the debut of a new song, "El Gallo". This new tune complements the excellent musical abilities of this popular group.

Carlos Manuel, the new Ricky Martin of Cuban Salsa.

Carlos Manuel and his Clan, the group and front man of the moment in Latin dance music, performed in the Latin Music Festival in Zurich, Switzerland. Anointed with high expectations and promise, this new Cuban star is considered in Europe to be the Ricky Martin of Cuban Salsa. Pedro de la Hoz, the music critic from the Cuban newspaper Granma, who had previously cast a thumbs-down vote for the young singer, is now part of the increasing number of supporters who are praising Manuel's current popular hit "Malo Cantidad". Mario Rivera (Mayito) of Los Van Van also was impressive in an impromptu rumba.

Andy Montañéz in Cuba.

Other June events included the Andy Montanés visit to the 15Th Annual International Festival of Boleros. First he visited Santiago de Cuba, the cradle of Bolero, and later performed in the National Theater of Havana along with the beautiful songstress and Buena Vista Social Club diva, Omara Portuondo. The duos performance of "El choque de tren (train crash)" was exceptional. Andy's announcement that he had come to the home of bolero in search of love caused a roar of applause from admiring Cubanas in this mecca of music in the Americas.

Guinness World Record of the largest Bolero.

A display of superior musical artistic was achieved in Havana from June 21 to June 25th with the presentation of 480 Cubans and 74 foreigners who performed various interpretations of 4,872 boleros. Cuba had already staged the largest Son marathon world (in May of 1997) and now it has the record for the longest continuous bolero performance. The event was a song filled festival that was felt in the hearts of those who attended. The Colloquim that was offered simultaneously between foreign and local musicians Festival did not have the same effect of other years because it attempted to mix the bolero with the lyrical European song.

The death of Chico O' Farril was felt in all of Havana.

The periodical, Granma, chronicled the death of one of the great architects of Latin Jazz, Chico O' Farril. The Cuban music community felt the painful loss from the passing of such an important musician. Felix Guerrero, Chico's teacher, praised the deceased as having been one of his best and brightest students. He was a glory of Cuba.