No doubt about it, Willy Chirino besides being one of the greatest Cuban musicians in history, is one of the most humble ones with a great philosophy of life which over all the foundation of his success.

His music has motivated many, he has made them dance throughout the planet, but the most distinctive quality one finds in this master of salsa is the feeling he puts in each one of his songs, that feeling that makes people tremble bring back the best in them and the most wonderful memories besides the pride of being Cubans.

Inspite of being famous and disregarding his international exposure, we find in this man a genuine representative of our values. Someone who was born and raised outside of the Cuban environment,t and who dreams of going back to his roots. A man who, no matter how many years have passed, and inspite of adversity or circumstances, has been able to make known through his music the pride he feels by his Cuban Heritage and how important it is to promote Cuban values and traditions, those that have been disappearing in the 42 years of exile that we Cuban have suffered.

Julieta Torres interviewed him for this first issue, we offer you that interview which demonstrate his total devotion to Cuba,

JT- Who is Willy Chirino as a human being?
W- He smiles saying, “you have no idea how much I dislike auto-description, It is not only that I don’t like it but that it is very hard for me. I can describe anyone I see walking down, and even someone that I know, but to describe myself it is hard, since I must live within myself 24/7. Besides my personality has being changing through the years, but basically I am a non-complicated type of man, I don’t know if humble is the word. I am a man who is very attached to his roots, to what I learned when I was a young boy, the first years of my life. I was born and raised in the inland of Cuba, and I think that has a lot to do with the way I portray myself, like a man who really enjoys the simple ways of life.”

JT- What are the moral values that you admire the most and those which you think are important, in other words the ones you carry with you during your life?
WC- “The moral values? -I am a family-oriented person. Maybe it has its roots in the fact that I was raised within a very close family. My parents were always married, the was no separation, no divorce in my family. We would always abide by family values, we would eat together, everyone seated at the table at the same time. Many things like that, and I think that is very important in life. The bonding with my family, the way I was able to develop within a tight-family relationship. I believe those are the most
important values that have made an influence in my behavior throughout my entire life.”

JT- Provided circumstances would had been different, what do you think could have happened should you had stayed in Cuba?
WC- “I believe it would had been the same. The only different think would had been if I would had had to develop within the communist regime, I sincerely believe that would have changed completely the course of my life. But definitely if Cuba would have had a democratic system, I would have done the same.”

JT- To be a Musicians is no accident for you, it is in your blood, in your cultural pride... tell me about that.
WC- “I was born a musician. My life takes place in concerts. I think it s very lucky to have no doubt about that. I know, especially many young people, who still do not know what they want from life. I always had an inclination for Music, the determination that I was going to make it in that field, even though I come from a family who is not musical at all.

JT- You are the only bad note in your family?
WC- He smiles and adds, the wrong note, the out of tone note. Specially because m parents, all my family are people who have a degree from University of Havana. My father is a lawyer, my mother is a pharmacist. Yes I went to college to study something that had nothing to do with music: Graphic Art. My mother always said it was fine to be a musician, but she added that I must to have a degree in another field just in case Music could not be my bread and butter. However, my family always. Come to think about it, my career in Art has been good, I take very good care of the artistic part when it comes to creativity in my posters, CD-covers, etc. But my thing is definitely music!
Chirino left Cuba when he was very young, but he is proud of his heritage. He speaks, acts and is proud of being 100% Cuban.