Buena Vista Social Club Singer Ferrer Dies

[Judi Lynn]

Buena Vista Social Club Singer Ferrer Dies

Ibrahim Ferrer, Singer With Buena Vista Social Club, Dies at 78; Had Suffered From Emphysema


HAVANA Aug 6, 2005 — Singer Ibrahim Ferrer, a leading voice with the hugely popular Buena Vista Social Club of vintage Cuban performers, died Saturday, recording industry officials here said. He was 78.

The Montuno production company did not give a cause of death Saturday night when confirming Ferrer's death earlier in the day.

Ferrer's colleagues said he suffered from emphysema in recent years and was feeling ill earlier in the week during a flight home from Europe.

"I felt like he was my brother," said fellow Buena Vista performer, guitarist Manuel Galban. "He was a great musician and a great companion."
(snip)

Among a group of older Cuban performers recruited by U.S. musician Ry Cooder, Ferrer performed on the "Buena Vista Social Club" album that won a Grammy in 1999, and was among those appearing in the film of the same name.
(snip/...)

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?

http://www.montunocubano.com/Tumbao/images/Artistes/Ferrer,%20Ibrahim/Ferrer,%20I.2.jpg http://www.montunocubano.com/Tumbao/images/Artistes/Ferrer,%20Ibrahim/Ferrer,%20I.%203.jpg

If you haven't heard his voice, here are some song samples. He was a magnificent performer. He did a song with Omara Portuondo which could make a complete stranger absolutely cry:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000J7IL/ref=pm_dp_ln_m_2/104-6552139-7782352?v=glance&s=music&vi=samples

[Son of California]

1. God, this guy had a beautiful voice

truly one of my favorites

[enough]

2. Rest in Peace, Ibrahim Ferrer, and thank you.

[madrchsod]

3. npr is having a program on ry cooder

and he was just talking about ibrahim and what an amazing voice he has...little milton and now ibrahim.....

[lavenderdiva]

4. I'm sorry to hear this news...

Buena Vista Social Club is one of my favorites... Rest in Peace.

[nine23]

5. RIP, Señor Ferrer...

Beautiful voice, beautiful music, beautiful life. His voice will be around for years and years to come...

[IndianaGreen]

6. Bush kept Cuban artists out of the US because they are terrorists

and the gullible public believed that bullshit, just as they believe that Cuba is a threat to America. The only terrorist in US-Cuba relations has always been the United States of America!

[jaysunb]

7. RIP Ibrahim

and thank you Ry, for letting me hear him.....

[Gloria]

8. I'll be sure to tune into Radio Havana over the next few days....

I'm sure they'll feature him on the music portion of their programming.
(Which is ALWAYS good).

Great singer.....

[Mika]

9. Damn. What a loss to the world of music. What a loss to Cuba.

He was a national treasure to the island.


R.I.P. Mr Ferrer.

:( :( :( :(

[shanti]

10. RIP, mr. ferrer!

he had such a beautiful voice....i loved the BVSC!

[Judi Lynn]

11. Just saw the origin of the name "Buena Vista Social Club" explained!

Buena Vista singer Ibrahim Ferrer dies
Sat Aug 6, 2005 11:34 PM ET


HAVANA (Reuters) - Ibrahim Ferrer, the mild-mannered singer of the Buena Vista Social Club group that took him from shining shoes to world fame late in life, died on Saturday in Havana, his manager said. He was 78.

The Grammy winner known for his trademark cap and gray mustache died of multiple organ failure after returning ill on Wednesday from a European tour, manager Daniel Florestan said.

"He was taken to hospital when he got back and his condition worsened. He died of multiple organ failure," Florestan said.

A singer of Cuba's traditional son music whose voice has been compared with that of Nat King Cole, Ferrer was born at a social club dance in Santiago, Cuba, on Feb. 20, 1927 when his mother suddenly went into labor. He began singing professionally at the age of 14.
(snip/...)

http://olympics.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2005-08-07T033419Z_01_N06267699_RTRIDST_0_ENTERTAINMENT-PEOPLE-FERRER-DC.XML

An interview with him from last year, after another world tour at the age of 77:

http://www.blesok.com.mk/tekst.asp?lang=eng&tekst=611

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.montunocubano.com/Tumbao/images/Artistes/Ferrer,%20Ibrahim/Ferrer,%20I.%201.jpg

[brook]

12. Thanks for the pictures.

I especially like the last one on the boat.

Strange coincidence. My neighbor's playing something godawful and I had just thought that I'd play my BVSC CD when I got through checking out DU. Guess I'll pump up the volume.

RIP,Mr. Ferrer. Heaven will love your music too.

[progmom]

13. poop

:cry:


I was just reading a great interview with him in a back issue of Mojo.

[grace0418]

14. Damn there's some good music going on in heaven right now.

RIP Ibrahim, you are a gift to this world.