Ibrahim Ferrer - Blender

ARTISTS

Ibrahim Ferrer

Born in Santiago, Cuba, in 1927, singer Ibrahim Ferrer began performing at the age of 14. He began singing for Pacho Alonso’s Maravilla De Beltran (later renamed Los Bocucos) in the 1950s, and continued to play with the band for more than 20 years. His popularity led to guest spots with other Cuban legends, like Beny More, but he did not make any recordings. Ferrer had retired by the 1980s and was living on a small state pension and shining shoes for extra money. He came out of retirement in 1997 to make his recorded debut with the Afro-Cuban All Stars, Toda Cuba le Gusta. The attention he attracted for his work on that album earned him a spot on Ry Cooder’s Buena Vista Social Club album, also released in 1997. In 1999 Ferrer won a Latin Grammy for Best New Artist for his solo debut, Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer.

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