The original Buena Vista Social Club album was one of three projects recorded during the two-week session organized by World Circuit Records at EGREM Studios, Havana, Cuba, in March 1996. The session also produced Introducing Rubn Gonzlez and the Afro-Cuban All Stars' A Toda Cuba Le Gusta. The original concept for the Buena Vista Social Club was of a small guitar-based band, featuring Ry Cooder (who also acted as producer) playing alongside musicians from Mali and Cuba. However, this was abandoned after the two Malian musicians booked to play failed to arrive because of problems with their passports. The line-up for the session was finally comprised of musicians who had played on the Afro-Cuban All Stars album, including bolero vocalist Ibrahim Ferrer (b. 20 February 1927, San Luis, Cuba) and pianist Rubn Gonzlez (b. 26 September 1919, Santa Clara, Cuba, d. 8 December 2003, Havana, Cuba), plus others suggested by Cooder, such as veteran singers Compay Segundo (b. Maximo Francisco Re... view full bio
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