Ibraim Ferrer Cuban musician Date of Birth: 20.02.1927 Country: Cuba

Biography of Ibrahim Ferrer

Ibrahim Ferrer, a Cuban musician, is renowned for his talent as a singer. Born on February 20, 1927, in a nightclub in the suburbs of Santiago de Cuba, he was affectionately called "Superabuelo" (Super Grandfather) in his homeland. At the age of 12, Ferrer tragically lost his mother, Aurelia Ferrer, who never married. Left without siblings, he had to earn a living for himself. He worked as a shoeshine and newspaper delivery boy, and also played music on the streets to make money. A year later, he formed the music group "Jovenes del Son" with his cousin. As time went on, Ferrer played in various bands and quickly gained fame in the country. In 1953, he joined Pacho Alonso's orchestra and, along with him, moved to the capital in 1959. In 1991, Ibrahim Ferrer retired from his music career. However, he returned to the stage in 1996 after receiving an invitation from Ry Cooder to record an album with other Cuban musicians, such as Compay Segundo and Ruben Gonzalez. Ferrer shared a story about Juan de Marcos unexpectedly appearing at his doorstep when he was shining shoes and taking him to a recording studio, where Ruben Gonzalez played the piano for the song "Candela," which had made Ferrer famous in Cuba. Ferrer sang, and Cooder asked him to record the song. The album "Buena Vista Social Club," recorded by Cooder in 1997, won a Grammy Award in 1998. The triumphant return of Ferrer and other Cuban musicians to the stage was captured in Wim Wenders' 1999 documentary film "Buena Vista Social Club." Ferrer's solo album "A toda Cuba le gusta" was nominated for a Grammy Award. In 2004, Ferrer won a Grammy Award in the category of "Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album" for his album "Buenos hermanos." At the age of 72, in 2000, Ferrer received a Latin Grammy Award in the category of "Best New Artist." Shortly after returning from a European tour, Ferrer passed away in a clinic in Havana and was buried in the Christopher Columbus Cemetery.