MIAMI, United States. – Starting this Thursday, a street in the city of West New York, in the state of New Jersey, bears the name of the popular Cuban musician Willy Chirino.
“Thank you to everyone who had to do with this great recognition located in the best place it could be. In West New York, next to the monument to our Apostle José Martí and [de] another that exalts the memory of the combatants of Brigade 2506. I feel extremely blessed and grateful”, the Cuban musician celebrated on his Instagram account.
During the act of naming the street, the Cuban-American Gabriel Rodríguez, mayor of West New York, said that the recognition of Willy Chirino took place a day before “this musical legend” released his first album after 13 years away from the recording studios.
In accordance with the report of the channel Telemundo 51both Rodríguez and residents of Cuban origin celebrated the musical legacy and courage of Chirino, who “with his lyrics has been able to reach ordinary Cubans on the Island.”
At the end of October of this year, the Cuban musician also received a tribute on the popular Calle Ocho in Miami for his 50 years of artistic career.
On that occasion, a Chirino mural 18.2 meters high (60 feet) and 16.5 meters (55 feet) wide, commissioned by the Miami Mayor’s Office from Chilean artist Alexandra Seda, was unveiled.
On the occasion of this tribute, Chirino expressed to Newspaper Las Americas: “There have been many years in this city from which I receive wonderful support and affection.”
The interpreter of popular songs like “Our day is coming”, living in the United States since he was 14 years old, has been one of the most representative music voices of Cuban exile.
In January 2023, he will once again be honored with the exhibition “Willy Chirino: 50 years of music”, which will exhibit personal items valuable to him at the Miami History Museum for having accompanied him on his musical career.
Among other recognitions to the singer-songwriter is the delivery of the Key to the City of Miami, received at the American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora, in April 2021; as well as the John S. McCain Freedom Award to the people of Cuba, awarded by the International Republican Institute (IRI) in October of the same year, “for rise up against the dictatorship and demand a democratic future”.
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