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Image by: leeppolis [Flickr] 

What Ever Happened to the Buena Vista Social Club?

From: Making Contact
Series: Making Contact
Length: 29:00

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The "Buena Vista Social Club" CD and documentary film were hits, but may have created some myths about Cuba and the musicians themselves. Independent producer Reese Erlich spent years interviewing the musicians and separates fact from fiction. Read the full description.

Episode_pic_for__16-09_small In 1997, the “Buena Vista Social Club” CD took the world by storm. Two years later, a documentary film about the musicians became even more popular earning an Oscar nomination. And while the movie was a hit, it may also have created some myths about Cuba and the musicians themselves. Independent producer Reese Erlich spent years interviewing members of the Buena Vista Social Club and separates fact from fiction.

Erlich’s new book is Dateline Havana: The Real Story of U.S. Policy and the Future of Cuba.

Featuring:
Eliades Ochoa, Cuarteto Patria guitarist; Ruben Gonzalez, pianist and original Buena Vista Social Club pianist; Eneida Lima, Ruben Gonzalez’ wife; Ibrahim Ferrer, original Buena Vista Social Club singer; Mario Jorge Munoz, Havana newspaper ‘Juventud Rebelde’ cultural reporter; Barbarito Torres, original Buena Vista Social Club virtuoso laoud player; Manuel Galban, modern Buena Vista Social Club Band guitarist; Pablo Menendez, Mezcla guitarist; Magda Gutierrez, Manuel Galban’s wife.

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Piece Description

In 1997, the “Buena Vista Social Club” CD took the world by storm. Two years later, a documentary film about the musicians became even more popular earning an Oscar nomination. And while the movie was a hit, it may also have created some myths about Cuba and the musicians themselves. Independent producer Reese Erlich spent years interviewing members of the Buena Vista Social Club and separates fact from fiction.

Erlich’s new book is Dateline Havana: The Real Story of U.S. Policy and the Future of Cuba.

Featuring:
Eliades Ochoa, Cuarteto Patria guitarist; Ruben Gonzalez, pianist and original Buena Vista Social Club pianist; Eneida Lima, Ruben Gonzalez’ wife; Ibrahim Ferrer, original Buena Vista Social Club singer; Mario Jorge Munoz, Havana newspaper ‘Juventud Rebelde’ cultural reporter; Barbarito Torres, original Buena Vista Social Club virtuoso laoud player; Manuel Galban, modern Buena Vista Social Club Band guitarist; Pablo Menendez, Mezcla guitarist; Magda Gutierrez, Manuel Galban’s wife.

Broadcast History

Program #16-09 - Begin date: 04/22/09. End date: 10/22/09.

Timing and Cues

Total run time is 29 minutes (no hard breaks)
-Optional cutaway at 1:00
-Optional (floating) cutaway between 12:00 and 20:00
-Music in/out.

Additional Credits

Executive Producer/Host: Tena Rubio
This program, producer: Reese Erlich
Producer/Online Editor: Pauline Bartolone
Producer: Andrew Stelzer
Executive Director: Lisa Rudman
Associate Director: Khanh Pham
Production Intern: Megan Martenyi
NRP Interns: Asma Mohseni, Keisha Thomas, Patti Restaino
Super Volunteers: Ron Rucker and Dan Turner
Audio Harvesters: Simin Yahaghi and Rita Daniels

Related Website

www.radioproject.org