Osvaldo Millet sadly passed away on the 26th September 2017. May he rest in peace.
Osvaldo Millet (1946 - 2017) was the leader of the güiro ensemble Chango Leye. He was born in Reparto Perla in Los Pinos, Cuba. Soon after arriving in South Florida in 1980 he formed his own ritual group and recorded a seminal güiro album in 2002 (Chango Leye). He has supported his ritual musical career with part-time work in the catering industry. When I met him in the summer of 2017 he reminisced about some of the characters he played with when he arrived in Miami, many of whom had passed away. Like many of his generation, he too feels the ritual musical tradition is becoming lost with the latest influx of musicians from Cuba. |
L-R "Ferro, Guillemo Casares, Luisito Oferere, Osvaldo Millet, Unknown, Gilberto, Manolito "Mermelda" circa 1990s (Photo courtesy of Osvaldo Millet)
Osavaldo Millet's Añá documentation (Courtesy of Osvaldo Millet)
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Osvaldo reminisces about some of the people he has worked with over the years. He talks about the consecration of his batá and the changing ritual music scene in Miami.
L-R: Philbert Armenteros, Jorge Iglesia, Tony, Osvaldo Millet, Lazaro Chichirulu, 'Guantanamero', Awo Orumila 'El Denny' 1996 (Photo courtesy of Osvaldo Millet)
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