City of Gainesville, FL

10/30/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 10/30/2024 08:43

Gainesville officials to present Key to the City to Willy Chirino

Gainesville officials to present Key to the City to Willy Chirino

Published on October 30, 2024

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Oct. 30, 2024) - Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward will present a Key to the City to Cuban-American singer/songwriter Willy Chirino for his many contributions during his 50 years in music and for helping raise Gainesville's profile internationally as a music destination.

When: 8 p.m. Sat., Nov. 2

Where: Bo Diddley Plaza

Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward also will proclaim Nov. 2 Willy Chirino Day. Following the Key to the City presentation, the renowned salsa musician performs for the first time in Gainesville at Bo Diddley Plaza as part of the Tu Fiesta Radio Festival 2024.

In 2006, his album, "Son del Alma," won a Grammy for Best Salsa/Merengue Album. In 2014, Chirino was awarded the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Recording Academy for contributions of outstanding artistic significance to Latin music.

Chirino is founder of the Willy Chirino Foundation, a philanthropic organization that addresses the needs of underprivileged children and families across Latin America and South Florida. The foundation was recognized by the U.S. Department of State in 1999.