Ibrahim Ferrer

Born in San Luis, Cuba on February 20, 1927, Ibraham Ferrer was a singer who finally achieved international fame with the Buena Vista Social Club when he was 70 years old. Ferrer was born in a dance club in San Luis, but was orphaned at the age of 12 when his mom died. In order to earn money to survive, he began busking on the streets. He then formed a duo, Jovenes del Son, with his cousin. The duo performed at various private functions, earning enough money to help them survive. Ferrer played with various groups around Cuba including Chepín y su Orquesta Oriental, with whom he recorded the 1956 hit single “El Platanal de Bartolo”. Ferrer began performing with Pacho Alonso and his band in Santiago, Cuba in 1953. Six years later, the band moved to Havana and started performing under the name Los Bocucos. When Alonso left to form a new band, Ferrer took over lead vocals. The band released albums in the 1970s and 1980s including Salsón (1982). He continued to perform with Los Bocucos until he retired in 1991. He was pulled out of retirement to perform in Nick Gold’s World Circuit sessions. He recorded the Grammy-nominated 1997 album A Toda Cuba le Gusta with the Afro-Cuban All Stars. He then sang on the Grammy-winning Buena Vista Social Club (1997), which was created and overseen by Ry Cooder. The album made Ferrer an international star. In 1999, Ferrer recorded his first solo album with Cooder, Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer. The album earned the 72 year old Ferrer the Latin Grammy for Best New Artist. He recorded the track "Latin Simone (¿Qué Pasa Contigo?)" with Gorillaz in 2001. His next solo album was Buenos Hermanos in 2003. He recorded his next album then went on a 2005 tour of Europe. Shortly after he returned home from the tour, Ibrahim Ferrer died of multiple organ failure at the age of 78 on August 5, 2005. His final album, Mi Sueño, was release posthumously. In 2008, a posthumous live album, Buena Vista Social Club at Carnegie Hall, was released.