Dozens of people lined up this Wednesday from 10 in the morning, umbrellas in hand, to say goodbye to Pablo Milanés at the Casa de América in Madrid, the place chosen for family, friends and fans to say goodbye to the Cuban singer-songwriter who died this Tuesday because of cancer.
It is expected that he will be buried in the capital, although Federico Pérez Rey, Milanés's brother-in-law and family representative, has not informed about the final destination of the musician's remains or if a tribute will be made in Cuba.
He has appreciated the affection that is breathed in the room: "he was, is and will be universal and the people who are receive the same affection that he gave in life".
Figures from the world of culture have also been approaching the funeral chapel, which has opened its doors at half past ten.
The actor Juan Echanove and the musicians Fito Páez and Caco Senante,
More information
The burning chapel of Pablo Milanés, in pictures
At the gates of the Casa de América, Fito Páez has recounted that Milanés had projects underway: “We were preparing a tango record, we had the last meeting in March in Madrid and it couldn't be done”.
For Páez, a brother and one of the best singer-songwriters of this century and the past has left: "He was a machine for making perfect songs, he has no disposables."
In addition, its violinist and producer Dagoberto González has announced that he has recorded a posthumous album of collaborations, a continuation of
Querido Pablo
and
Pablo Querido
.
The new installment will feature artists such as Alejandro Sanz, Juanes or Caco Senante.
The Argentine musician Fito Páez, upon his arrival at the Casa de América. FERNANDO VILLAR (EFE)
Senante, trembling, recalled the great legacy he leaves and the political will of his friend: "He had a great sense of justice and never closed his mouth to say what he thought, despite the consequences, the truth was always ahead ”.
The Canarian musician recalled that one of the singer-songwriter's last wishes was not to be repatriated to Cuba and suggested that the "logical thing is that whoever returns Pablo to Cuba is culture."
Echanove, to whom emotion has not allowed him to speak more, has assured that he was confident in the singer's recovery: "I had already gotten used to the idea a few months ago, but you always had the feeling that Pablo was going to beat him again" .
More than a hundred followers from three generations, eager to say goodbye to the Cuban singer-songwriter and thank him for more than 50 years of music, have come early in the morning when only family and close friends were inside the chapel.
Between flowers and tears, dozens of people have not stopped parading to see the remains of the Cuban throughout the morning, many of them of Cuban origin and raised with his songs.
Some have squared off in front of the coffin, surrounded by dozens of bouquets of flowers and a black and white photo of him with his fist raised.
Wreaths have also arrived from friends like Joaquin Sabina, who has not gone to the chapel.
Hundreds of followers of Pablo Milanés gather to say goodbye to the Cuban singer-songwriter in the Cervantes Hall of the Casa de América, in Madrid.
FERNANDO VILLAR (EFE)
The singer Massiel, who has appeared among the line of fans and with whom she has shared the stage many times, has not been able to hold back her tears when talking about Milanés: “She was a little ball of love and sensitivity”.
She hasn't stopped crying since yesterday a photograph of the two appeared in the media at a concert where they caressed each other.
The artist has referred to the first meal in which she spoke with the composer in 1976, the day of her birthday, the same date that the singer Cecilia died in a car accident and that she had to go to that celebration.
"Now only reggaeton comes from America and that doesn't reach me, but Milanés was capable of transmitting with his voice and his gaze," she concluded.