Uploaded February 2011 | Updated September 2026, 6 days ago
Like magic, conga lines appear whenever Wil Campa y Su Gran Union launch into their hot Cuban dance numbers, peppered with salsa, cumbia and son. Influenced by Latin musical styles from the 40's and 70's, Wil Campa is on a mission to keep Cuban music alive by mixing the rhythms of both generations. One of his greatest musical attributes is his uniquely recognizable Cuban vocal techniques and the implementation of sonero singing which provides the rhythm in his improvisations.With a sweet and powerful voice and captivating stage presence, Wil beguiles his audience, prowling the stage with microphone in hand and breaking into dance moves as he invokes an instantaneous reaction from the audience to join in on his call-and-response songs.
Born and raised in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, Wilfredo Campa discovered a tremendous love for music at an early age. As a child he would enlist family members and children from the neighborhood to form grand orchestras, with Wil as the leader. His passion for dance and songwriting eventually led to a music degree from the acclaimed Escuela Superacion de Arte Raul Sanchez, a prestigious arts institution in Cuba.
Wil was the lead singer of one of Cuba's foremost groups, Maraca, and also performed with Cumbre, an outstanding group of musicians in Pinar del Rio with whom he participated at the 1988 Adolfo Guzman Festival, the most important song festival in Cuba. Wil has shared the stage with Wynton Marsalis, Poncho Sanchez, Natalie Cole, Joe Lovano, and Jimmy Bosh, as well as major Cuban artists like the Buena Vista Social Club's Ibrahim Ferrer, whom he performed with in Marciac, France at Ibrahim's last concert before he died.
In 2005, Wil formed one of the most exciting groups to come out of Cuba in decades - Wil Campa y Su Gran Union, an internationally acclaimed Latin Cuban twelve piece rhythm orchestra.
Continuing on with a journey that began in the countryside of Cuba so many years ago and that has taken him all over the world since. Wil has the heartfelt appreciation of the Cuban people for his passion and eagerness to keep Cuban music alive. With his unique voice and infectious ability to move an audience, don't be surprised when Caribbean dance fever hits Roots and Blues as Wil Campa y Su Gran Union embrace you with their native Cuban sound.
The Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival event occurs every third weekend in August. To find out more about this year's event and to buy tickets go to www.RootandBlues.ca!
Like magic, conga lines appear whenever Wil Campa y Su Gran Union launch into their hot Cuban dance numbers, peppered with salsa, cumbia and son. Influenced by Latin musical styles from the 40's and 70's, Wil Campa is on a mission to keep Cuban music alive by mixing the rhythms of both generations. One of his greatest musical attributes is his uniquely recognizable Cuban vocal techniques and the implementation of sonero singing which provides the rhythm in his improvisations.With a sweet and powerful voice and captivating stage presence, Wil beguiles his audience, prowling the stage with microphone in hand and breaking into dance moves as he invokes an instantaneous reaction from the audience to join in on his call-and-response songs.
Born and raised in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, Wilfredo Campa discovered a tremendous love for music at an early age. As a child he would enlist family members and children from the neighborhood to form grand orchestras, with Wil as the leader. His passion for dance and songwriting eventually led to a music degree from the acclaimed Escuela Superacion de Arte Raul Sanchez, a prestigious arts institution in Cuba.
Wil was the lead singer of one of Cuba's foremost groups, Maraca, and also performed with Cumbre, an outstanding group of musicians in Pinar del Rio with whom he participated at the 1988 Adolfo Guzman Festival, the most important song festival in Cuba. Wil has shared the stage with Wynton Marsalis, Poncho Sanchez, Natalie Cole, Joe Lovano, and Jimmy Bosh, as well as major Cuban artists like the Buena Vista Social Club's Ibrahim Ferrer, whom he performed with in Marciac, France at Ibrahim's last concert before he died.
In 2005, Wil formed one of the most exciting groups to come out of Cuba in decades - Wil Campa y Su Gran Union, an internationally acclaimed Latin Cuban twelve piece rhythm orchestra.
Continuing on with a journey that began in the countryside of Cuba so many years ago and that has taken him all over the world since. Wil has the heartfelt appreciation of the Cuban people for his passion and eagerness to keep Cuban music alive. With his unique voice and infectious ability to move an audience, don't be surprised when Caribbean dance fever hits Roots and Blues as Wil Campa y Su Gran Union embrace you with their native Cuban sound.
The Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival event occurs every third weekend in August. To find out more about this year's event and to buy tickets go to www.RootandBlues.ca!
