An assistant took the stage during the Willy Chirino concert in Fort Myers, Florida, last Sunday, and displayed a handmade sign that read "WILLY, the next one is in Cuba," in a gesture that encapsulated the sentiment of the entire night. The moment was captured by photographer Dennis Pérez Hernández.
The concert took place at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center as part of the celebration of the 50-year artistic career of the Cuban-American singer. The event, organized by Havana Latin Producciones, was described by its producer Yotuhel Montane as "an unforgettable night."
The night's repertoire included some of the artist's greatest anthems: "Nuestro Día (Ya Viene Llegando)," "Medias Negras," and "La Noche Perfecta."
The young Cuban musician El Rojo posted an emotional video the next day with the phrase: "If in dreams we already sing in Cuba… just imagine the day reality allows us to return." In his post, he thanked Chirino "for the opportunity, for the affection, and for supporting these dreamers."
El Rojo and Chirino have recently collaborated. In September 2025, they recorded the song "Me duele Cuba", along with fellow artist Néstor Meneses, at the home of the maestro. Chirino then described the two young artists as "two incredibly talented individuals who created a song that is worth gold for the hearts of Cubans."
On his part, this concert was filled with symbolism. Just days earlier, on March 17, Chirino had shared a photograph taken in Havana where a wall bore the phrase "Ya viene llegando," an iconic line from his 1991 song. He accompanied it with the text: "Havana, Cuba. March 16, 2026. Everyone is already waiting for it."
In February, while celebrating 50 years of his career, Chirino reflected on the fight for Cuban freedom during an interview with WPLG Local 10, describing it as "a roller coaster." "Sometimes you feel better, sometimes you get really down," he confessed from his home in Pinecrest, Miami-Dade.
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