Willy Chirino

Willy Chirino (born April 5, 1947, in Consolación del Sur, Pinar del Río, Cuba) is a Cuban singer, songwriter, musician and record producer.

Early life Following the communist revolution in Cuba, Chirino came to the United States in 1960 as part of Operation Peter Pan.

Career Chirino began his artistic career in Miami, releasing his first album in 1974. Since then, he has recorded over 20 albums, several of which have attained platinum and gold status. In 2006, his album Son del Alma, won a Grammy Award for Best Salsa/Merengue Album. As founder of the Willy Chirino Foundation, his philanthropic efforts have been recognized by UNICEF and the Department of State. He celebrated his 35th anniversary in music with his album Willy Chirino Live-35th Anniversary (Willy Chirino En Vivo-35 Aniversario), a CD/DVD combo of the concert. This album brought him his first nomination for 'Best Salsa Album' at the 2007 Latin Grammy Awards. Most recently, Chirino and his wife, singer-songwriter Lissette Álvarez, released their first album together, Amarraditos (Bound to One Another). The CD includes a potpourri of classic Spanish-language love songs. Chirino's album, Pa'lante, was released in early 2008, after which he launched a world tour. In 2011, when asked of how his recordings of My Beatles Heart, he said that Sony scrutinized every single one of his songs and their versions, because they consider the songs by the Beatles as one of their most precious treasures, and wanted to make sure they were being used in a rightful manner.

In 2014, Chirino received a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in Las Vegas for his music career.

Personal life His first marriage was to Olga Maria Rodriguez and they had three daughters: Angie, Olga Maria and Jessica. He later married Lissette Álvarez and had three more children: Nicolle, Alana, and Gianfranco. He has three grandchildren.

Discography

1974: One Man Alone 1975: Chirino 1976: Chirino 3 1977: ¿Quién Salvó la Ciudad? 1978: Evolución 1979: Come into My Music 1980: Diferente 1981: La Salsa y Yo 1982: Chirinísimo 1983: Subiendo 1985: 14 Éxitos 1985: Zarabanda 1988: Amándote 1989: Lo que Está Pa' Ti 1990: Acuarela del Caribe 1991: Oxígeno 1992: Un Tipo Típico y Sus Éxitos 1992: Mis Primeros Éxitos 1993: South Beach 1994: Oro Salsero: 20 Éxitos 1994: Brillantes 1995: Asere 1996: Antología Tropical 1997: Baila Conmigo 1997: Oro Salsero: 10 Éxitos Vol. 1 1998: Oro Salsero: 10 Éxitos Vol. 2 1998: Cuba Libre 1999: 20th Anniversary 2000: Greatest Hits 2000: Soy 2001: Afro-Disiac 2002: 15 Éxitos 2003: Serie Azul Tropical 2004: Son del Alma 2005: Cubanísimo 2005: 20 Éxitos Originales 2006: En Vivo: 35° Aniversario 2007: Amarraditos 2007: Lo Esencial 2007: Tesoros de Colección 2008: Pa' Lante 2008: Grandes Éxitos en Vivo 2011: My Beatles Heart 2011: Mis Favoritas 2012: Llegó la Navidad 2013: Soy... I Am: Mis Canciones – My Songs 2014: Serie Platino 2018: Navidad en Familia