Buena Vista Social Club

Created in 1997 as the result of a project organized by British record producer Nick Gold and American guitarist Ry Cooder, the Buena Vista Social Club became one of the world's most successful Latin-music projects at the turn of the millennium, spawning several Grammy-winning recordings as well as a critically acclaimed film. Comprised largely of elder Cuban musicians (many of whom were retired) and directed by Sierra Maestra founder Juan de Marcos González, Buena Vista resurrected the Cuban musical genres of two generations past and began a nostalgia trend spanning several continents.

The name Buena Vista Social Club is attributed to the bygone era of elitist clubs in Cuba during the first half of the 20th century, where members (exclusively rich and mainly light-skinned) enjoyed the benefits of a fraternal patron-based establishment. Ironically, these social clubs were usually home to coming-out parties and weddings for the darlings of Cuba's upper classes, but the new incarnation represented the truly mixed racial makeup of the island and its music.

Among the featured artists of the BVSC are the late Ibrahim Ferrer (who sang briefly in Benny Moré's band, and whose sweet tone and gentle manner stole the hearts of millions), Omara Portuondo (one of Cuba's diva performers in the cabaret-inspired filin genre, and formerly a member of the Cuarteto las D'Aida), the late Francisco Repilado (better known as Compay Segundo, and considered one of the great trovadores in the Cuban country music tradition) and a host of other Cuban greats. The series of albums following the debut recording each featured one of the group's members (such as pianist Rubén González and Manuel "El Guajiro" Mirabal, which won a Grammy), and rekindled a love for traditional son, mambo and bolero styles while introducing young audiences to the music of their parents (and grandparents.) —Rebeca Mauleon