Ibrahim Ferrer
Ibrahim Ferrer was born on February 20, 1927, in San Luis, Cuba, near Santiago de Cuba. His early life was marked by hardship; his mother died when he was twelve, leaving him orphaned and forcing him to sing on the streets to earn a living. At thirteen, he joined his first musical group, Jovenes del Son, with his cousin. Over the years, Ferrer performed with numerous musical groups, including Conjunto Sorpresa and Chepín y su Orquesta Oriental, where he recorded his biggest hit, "El platanal de Bartolo," in 1956.
In 1953, Ferrer began performing with Pacho Alonso's group, which later became known as Los Bocucos. He remained with them until his retirement in 1991, primarily performing sones, guarachas, and other up-tempo songs, although he aspired to sing boleros.
Ferrer experienced a career revival in 1996 when he was invited to record with the Afro-Cuban All Stars and the Buena Vista Social Club. This opportunity led to international tours and several solo albums, including "Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer" in 1999 and "Buenos Hermanos" in 2003. In 2000, Ferrer won the Best New Artist award at the first annual Latin Grammys.
Despite his late-life fame, Ferrer remained humble, charming audiences worldwide with his smooth, expressive voice. He passed away on August 6, 2005, in Havana, Cuba, leaving behind a legacy as a beloved figure in the resurgence of big-band Cuban music.
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