puros71 Posted February 10, 2009 Posted February 10, 2009 Buena Vista Social Club bassist Lopez dead at 76 By ANDREA RODRIGUEZ, Associated Press Writer Andrea Rodriguez, Associated Press Writer Mon Feb 9, 10:59 pm ET HAVANA – Orlando "Cachaito" Lopez, considered the "heartbeat" of Cuba's legendary Buena Vista Social Club for his internationally acclaimed bass playing, died Monday of complications from prostate surgery, fellow musicians said. He was 76. Lopez, a founding member of the band brought together in the 1990s by American guitarist and producer Ry Cooder, died in a Havana hospital several days after surgery, said Manuel Galban, a Cuban musician who played with Lopez for decades. "We have lost a great companion," said Galban. Born in Havana in 1933, Lopez became an international sensation as part of the Buena Vista Social Club — a group of elderly, sometimes retired, musicians who were living quietly in Cuba before Cooder brought them together and they became worldwide sensations. "I will remember him as marvelous, both in his music and as a person," Galban, a guitarist, said by telephone. "He was extraordinary, affable, a great bassist." Lopez died less than a week after turned 76. "I called him last week because it was his birthday and his voice didn't sound too good," said musician Amadito Valdes, who added that Lopez had undergone prostate surgery several days ago. "He was a person who was always sharing with everyone around him, very noble." Lopez was held by many to be Buena Vista's heartbeat and had played to international audiences as part of its touring company. The group, which plays a mix of traditional Cuban rhythms, has lost many of its key members of late. Singer Compay Segundo — who was born Maximo Francisco Repilado Munoz — pianist Ruben Gonzalez, and vocalists Ibrahim Ferrer and Pio Leyva have all died in recent years. But Lopez was also a star in his own right, independent of Buena Vista. His groundbreaking debut album Cachaito won a BBC Radio 3 Award for Word Music in 2002. Lopez hailed from a family of at least 30 bass players, including his uncle, legendary bassist Israel "Cachao" Lopez. His nickname translates to "Little Cachao." His father Orestes played piano and cello in addition to the bass and was also a composer. Lopez originally played the violin, but as he said publicly many times, eventually switched to the bass after his grandfather urged him to take up the family craft. He was a pioneer of Cuban mambo, and by 17 was part of a noted big band group known as Riverside. He later joined Cuba's national symphony. He also played with a band called "Los Zafiros." Lopez was at home playing classic as well as popular music but also dabbled in late night jazz and jazz fusion. However, he only gained international notoriety when Cooder brought him together with such standouts as Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer, Ruben Gonzalez and Omara Portuondo to form Buena Vista. Later, Wim Wenders released a documentary titled Buena Vista Social Club, in which he profiled the musicians whose talents had all but been forgotten. Family members planned to cremate the body but there was no immediate word on funeral services.
Ken Gargett Posted February 10, 2009 Posted February 10, 2009 very sad. have seen them, or versions thereof, several times and always fabulous. a double CD of the concert that is the finale of the BVSC has recently been released and is really wonderful stuff.
DocRKS Posted February 10, 2009 Posted February 10, 2009 Indeed a sad announcement...... The BVSC disc and the indie film of their performance at NYC Carneige Hall are all time favourites.
bolivr Posted February 11, 2009 Posted February 11, 2009 That is a loss for us all. I recently took up the electric bass and was trying to play along to Lopez' work last week. I was hoping to see some of these musicians play some day, better get to it, none of them are young
Fuzz Posted February 11, 2009 Posted February 11, 2009 "The Bar at Buena Vista" will be showing at the Arts Centre , Hamer Hall in Melbourne 1-2/05/09 and at the State Theatre in Sydney 8-9/05/09. Features Reynaldo Creagh, Maestro Rubalcaba, Barbara Ferrer Sanchez, Julio Padron, and Eric Turro.
bolivr Posted February 12, 2009 Posted February 12, 2009 "The Bar at Buena Vista" will be showing at the Arts Centre , Hamer Hall in Melbourne 1-2/05/09 and at the State Theatre in Sydney 8-9/05/09. Features Reynaldo Creagh, Maestro Rubalcaba, Barbara Ferrer Sanchez, Julio Padron, and Eric Turro. Thanks !
puros71 Posted February 12, 2009 Author Posted February 12, 2009 The Afro Cuban Allstars is touring the US here is the schedule Juan de Marco & Afro-Cuban All Stars US Tour - 2009 WEEK 1 Tues Feb 17, 2009 Tacoma, Washington Broadway Center Wed Feb 18, 2009 Olympia; Washington Washington Center Thurs Feb 19, 2009 Longview, Oregon Rose Theater Fri, Feb 20, 2009 Eugene, Oregon Hult Center Sun, Feb 22, 2009 Arcata, California Arcata Theater WEEK 2 Tues, Feb 24, 2009 Chico, California Cal State Chico Wed, Feb 25, 2009 Berkeley, California UC Berkeley Wed, Feb 26, 2009 Berkeley, California UC Berkeley Thur, Feb 26, 2009 Davis, California UC Davis Friday, Feb 27, 2009 Cerritos, California Cerritos Center Sat, Feb 28, 2009 Santa Barbara, California CA Center WEEK 3 Monday, March 2, 2009 Tucson, Arizona UA Presents Tuesday, March 3, 2009 Mesa, Arizona Mesa Arts Center Friday, March 6, 2009 Austin, Texas Paramount Theater Sat, March 7, 2009 Dallas, Texas Titas WEEK 4 Tues, March 10, 2009 Iowa City, Iowa West High School Friday, March 13, 2009 Madison, Wisconsin Overture Center Sat, March 14, 2009 Grand Rapids, Minnesota Myles Reif Center Sun, March 15, 2009 Minneapolis, Minnesota Orchestra Hall WEEK 5 Wed, March 18, 2009 Urbana, Illinois Krannert Center Fri, March 20, 2009 University Park, Illinois Governers State University Center Sat, March 21, 2009 Toledo, Ohio Valentine Theater Sun, March 22, 2009 (TBC) Cincinnati, Ohio Aronhoff Center WEEK 6 Tuesday, March 24, 2009 Oxford, Ohio Miami University Thursday, March 26, 2009 Trenton, New Jersey War Memorial Friday, March 27, 2009 Greenvale, New York Tiles Center Saturday, March 28, 2009 New York, NY Town Hall Theater Sunday, March 29, 2009 New Bedford, Massachusetts Zeiteron WEEK 7 Tues, March 31, 2009 North Bethesda, Maryland Strathmore Wed, April 1, 2009 Charlottesville, Virginia Paramount Theater Thurs April 2, 2009 Hampton, Virginia American Theater Fri. April 3, 2009 Greensboro, North Carolina Carolina Theater Sat, April 4, 2009 Atlanta, Georgia Variety Playhouse WEEK 8 Tues, April 7, 2009 Fort Pierce, Florida Sunrise Theater Wed, April 8, 2009 Fort Pierce, Florida Sunrise Theater Wed, April 8, 2009 West Palm Beach, Florida Raymond F. Kravis Center Thurs, April 9, 2009 Tampa, Florida Ferguson Hall Sat April 11, 2009 Miami, Florida Knight Concert Hall
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