The story goes that, by the beginning of 1969, the band was put together, but had yet to pick a name. Some of its members were cutting sugar cane and, in the middle of a cane field, began to talk about the matter. The Benny Moré Company wanted a name of Indian origin like Hatuey, while singer José Luis Martínez proposed Los de Usted, to which Pupi vehemently objected, saying they needed a more energetic name, something that sounds like Bang, Bang...! Obviously, it is Juan who definitively ended the discussion, by taking up Pupi's idea and declaring that the band was going to be called Los Van Van.
We are talking, of course, about a singular generator of creative concepts, the other essential force in the acclaimed musical universe of the beloved group. We are referring to pianist César (Pupi) Pedroso, who together with Juan Formell contributed the greatest number of classics to the Van Van repertoire.
If Formell’s tracks fill our emotional memory with joy, Pupi's compositions are not far behind. Mentioning titles such as El buena gente, Esto está bueno, Seis semanas, Tranquilo, Mota or El negro está cocinando, is enough to testify to the boundless creativity of the person who contributed so much to producing the flavor of this music that never ages.
To a large extent, one of the keys to deciphering the riddle of Van Van's longevity is recognizing the touch of Creole seasoning Pupi added to his piano solos, virtuosity inherited from his father, César Nene Pedroso, pianist of none other than Chapottin's Orchestra and La Sensación. After devoting practically a lifetime, more than three decades, to Los Van Van, Pupi Pedroso had the energy to try his luck as leader of his own band, Pupi y Los que son, son. The success they have enjoyed with hits like De la Timba a Pogolotti, La borrachera and Este año, testifies to the value of effectively combining his vast experience with the desire to be among the favorites of young audiences.
It is no accident that this National Prize for Music winner insists that his 74th birthday, this past September, only makes him even more enthusiastic about the one he will enjoy next year, when he celebrates several special dates, his 60th anniversary as a musician, the 20th as leader of his own band, and 75 years of life which he will welcome above all others, without forgetting the moment he accepted Juan Formell’s invitation to join the dreams of Los Van Van.
