Singer Ibrahim Ferrer with the hugely popular Buena Vista Social Club of vintage Cuban performers, died Saturday, August 6, 2005, in Havana, at the age of 78.
He was born on at a dance in the town of San Luis, near Santiago, Cuba, February 20, 1927. His mother passed away when he was 12, which resulted in him singing on the street to make money. The following year, he formed a duet with one of his cousins, and the two eaked out a living by playing private events.
Ibrahim Ferrer gained global attention when he performed on Ry Cooder's "Buena Vista Social Club" that won a Grammy in 1999. He was also among those appearing in the Wim Wnders film of the same name.
"I pinch myself all the time,” Ibrahim said at the time. “It is a dream come true. When I was younger I thought I was going to travel the world with my music. The only chance I got was when I came to Europe in 1962. Then there was the missile crisis. I played in Paris and Eastern Europe with Pacho Alonso’s orchestra and then I was stuck in Europe. I had to stay until everything settled down again before I could go home. Then nothing happened for thirty-five years. This has given me the will to live. I’m living the dream of my youth in the body of an old man."
The 78 year-old Ferrer toured Europe this year.
Discography.
2005 Ay Candela
2004 Que Bueno Esta
2003 Buenos Hermanos (Best Traditional Tropical album at the 4th Latin Grammy Awards)
2002 Tiempos Con Chepin y Su Orquesta
2002 La Colleccion Cubana
2002 Mis Tiempos Con Chepin
2000 Tierra Caliente: Roots of Buena Vista
1999 Buena Vista Social Club Presents: Ibrahim Ferrer (Best New Artist at the 1st Latin Grammy Awards, 1.5 million copies sold)
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Article comments
1 - Aaman
Well-written obit - just today, they were showing Wenders' Buena Vista Social Club on Showtime.
Hmmm.
2 - Triniman
He played the Winnipeg Folk Festival last summer, but I missed him the night he played. I heard his was the hit of the festival.
Maybe they were running the Wender film in his memory.
3 - Natalie Davis
Hit of the festival? Not suprising. The Buena Vista Social Club performances I saw were filled with infectious spirit, and Mr. Ferrer was a huge part of the magic. I am sad that he is gone, but my heart dances at the thought that he and his music were able to gain the world's attention and respect before his trip to the great beyond.
4 - Natalie Davis
Oops - surprising. I drop Rs when speaking Spanish too.
5 - Phillip Winn
Very sad. I loved BVSC and kept meaning to track down his later albums. I'm betting they'll be easy to find now, and you've listed stackful!
6 - gabriel camacho
great man andand great music