Song:No Me Vayas a Enganar
Album:Buena Vista Social Club Presents Omara Portuondo
The fabulous singer Omara Portuondo has been a star in Cuba for years but the film The Buena Vista Social Club made her an international star. Like her long time pal Ibrahim Ferrer, she is mesmerizing to listen to. Omara was born in Havana in 1930 one of three daughters of a baseball player. Her older sister Haydee was a dancer at the Tropicana and Omara joined in 1945. She also started singing in groups and in 1952, she formed Cuarteto d'Aida with Haydee and Elena Burke. Omara made her solo debut in 1959. Of course the Cuban Revolution prevented Omara from performing outside Cuba. She continued to record in Cuba for decades but had semi-retired when Ry Cooder saw her perform in 1995 and she was the only female vocalist featured in Buena Vista Social Club. This CD was released in 2000 on World Circuit/Nonesuch and features Ruben Gonzalez, Eliades Ochoa & Compay Segundo. It is highly recommended if you like great singers. Her latest CD Gracias was released in Sept. 2008 by World Village Music which is owned by the French classical label Harmonia Mundi. Omara Portuondo continues to tour the world today and entrance fans with her superior vocal abilities. Never seen her? Here's Omara Portuondo with the Afro Cuban All Stars, Ruben Gonzalez & Ibrahim Ferrer performing Quizas, Quizas, Quizas at the Heineken Concerts in Sao Paulo, Brazil Apr. 1999.
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