Controversy grows due to the omission of Chucho Valdés and Paquito D’Rivera’s Grammy in Granma

2023-11-18 21:03:38

Foto: Onix9 | Shutterstock

Text: Hugo León

Once again Cuban music shone at the Latin Grammys thanks to the artistic quality and talent of figures such as Omara Portuondo, Chucho Valdés and Paquito D’Rivera. However, not all the names of the winners reached the main Cuban media, something that generated controversy on social networks.

Although the Granma newspaper, the official organ of the PCC and the one with the largest circulation on the island, reported in its pages Omara’s award in the category Best Traditional Tropical Album for her album Vida, the applause for Chucho Valdés and D’Rivera went unnoticed in the text.

Also silent was the Award for Musical Excellence given to Arturo Sandoval, recognized as one of the best trumpeters in the history of Cuba.

The three great figures have a group in common to their credit: the group Irakere, whose legacy in Cuban popular music and Latin jazz has been widely recognized nationally and worldwide.

Forgetfulness or omission evaluated? For those who follow the music of these artists it is known that their careers go from success to success, but their positions towards the Havana government are no secret, which is enough to remove them from the radar of the Antillean state media.

Meanwhile, on social networks not only were the winners applauded, but controversy and even memes were also unleashed.

According to what Internet users commented in various spaces, not even the importance of Irakere weighed enough. You can also read criticism pointing out that once again, politics was taking a toll on culture.

Sandoval dedicated the award to his wife, whom he said was “his source of inspiration.” For his part, D’Rivera, who received a total of two awards at the gala, dedicated one of them to the people of Cuba and Venezuela, and in the other, which he won together with Chucho Valdés, he thanked his partner and friend, and his father.

Precisely after announcing that second prize, which they won together, both artists starred in an emotional moment when they merged into a strong hug when going on stage. For the first time in a long time they recorded together, and they thanked each other. In fact, Paquito assured that only one person had influenced him in music as much as his father and it was Chucho, who first set foot in a studio to record professionally.