IBRAHIM FERRER

Cuban singer Ibrahim Ferrer was born in the city of Santiago in 1927, beginning his performing career at age 14; by the 1950s he was fronting Pacho Alonso's Havana-based orchestra, remaining with the group for over two decades. Ferrer also guested with Cuban legends like the Orquesta de Chepin and Beny More, but by the 1980s he was out of music, shining shoes and living on a tiny monthly pension; finally, in 1997 he was lured out of retirement to make his recorded debut on the Afro-Cuban All Stars' debut Toda Cuba Le Gusta, followed that same year by an appearance on Ry Cooder's Buena Vista Social Club LP. In 1999, he released his solo debut, Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer. His critical acclaim was not disregarded, for Ferrer won a Grammy for Best New Artist at the first annual Latin Grammy Awards in fall 2000.