Artist:Buena Vista Social ClubSong:Chan Chan
Album:Buena Vista Social Club
The unlikely events that led to the discovery of Cuban music is one of the greatest success stories in the history of the music business. Remember the music of the Buena Vista Social Club is not mainstream music but the album has sold five million copies. So there really was a Buena Vista Social Club in Havana. Musicians would hang out there and jam in the 40s. Of course in 1996 when the time came to locate it, no one knew where it was. Many of the musicians who played in Cuban dance bands of the 40s became unemployed in 1959 with the revolution. They played on weekends but all had day jobs. So Ry Cooder heard about these forgotten musicians and was invited by World Circuit Records owner Nick Gold to go to Havana and record an album with these musicians. The musical director was Afro Cuban All Stars leader Juan de Marcos Gonzalez. He brought in bassist Orlando "Cachaito" Lopez, guitarist Eliades Ochoa, Pianist Ruben Gonzalez, and singers Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer and Omara Potruondo. Ry Cooder's son Joachim played drums. Chan Chan is considered the signature song from the album and was written by 89 year old Compay Segundo. The album was recorded in six days and subsequently Cooder brought Wim Wenders down to Cuba to shoot a documentary. Then the group went on tour. The album sold five million copies and won a Grammy. Several of the musicians recorded solo albums and the film was also a big hit. Cuban music became a cottage industry for World Circuit. Though Ruben Gonzalez, Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo and Orlando Lopez have all died, Buena Vista Social Club continues to tour today. Here's a video for Chan Chan by Buena Vista Social Club used to promote the recent release of a Carnegie Hall concert CD.
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