Manuel Mirabal, Legendary Cuban Trumpeter, Passes Away

The Buena Vista Social Club is a Cuban musical project that gained worldwide fame in the 1990s.

Guitarist Ry Cooder and musician Juan de Marcos González brought together legendary Cuban musicians of the era,

Including Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer, Omara Portuondo, Rubén González, and Eliades Ochoa.

Sadly, one of Buena Vista Social Club’s members, trumpeter Manuel Mirabal, has passed away at the age of 91.

Farewell to “El Guajiro”

According to On Cuba News, Manuel Mirabal died on Monday, October 28, in Havana, Cuba.

The country’s Music Institute shared the sad news through an official statement.

He was regarded as “one of the greatest trumpeters in Cuba and the world,” with a career spanning over 70 years.

The cause of his death was not disclosed. His funeral was held on Tuesday, October 29, at the Colón Cemetery.

It is said that Venezuelan singer Óscar de León gave Manuel Mirabal the nickname “El Guajiro de Cuba.”

However, other sources suggest that Cuban singer Tito Gómez may have coined the nickname.

At 18, Mirabal began his professional music career with Conjunto Universal.

After joining various musical groups, he became part of Buena Vista Social Club, with whom he won a Grammy in 1998.

Cuban singer Omara Portuondo, who was recently carried offstage at a concert in early October, reacted to the passing of “El Guajiro.”

“Thank you for everything, dear friend,” she expressed upon learning of Manuel Mirabal’s passing.

Meanwhile, fans of the musician took the opportunity to bid him a final farewell.

Many agreed that he was one of the world’s greatest trumpeters.