Manuel Guajiro Mirabal

Biography

"Guajiro" learned trumpet at a very young age and began playing professionally in 1951. He joined the jazz band ‘Swing Casino’ in 1953 before forming the ‘Conjunto Rumbavana’ three years later. In 1960, he joined the ‘Orquesta Riverside,’ whose singer Toto Gomez gave him his nickname ‘Guajiro’ Mirabal. There followed spells with various orchestras including ‘Orquesta del ICRT,’ the official orchestra of Cuban state radio and television.

In 1996 "Guajiro" became one of the Cuban musicians who joined American guitarist Ry Cooder for the Buena Vista Social Club collaboration. "Guajiro" went on to play a prominent role playing lead trumpeter on both records and performances for the group, featuring in the 1999 movie also titled Buena Vista Social Club. "Guajiro" has since released solo works under the Buena Vista Social Club esents... umbrella including an album which pays tribute to Cuban music legend Arsenio Rodriguez. In 2004 Miribal released an album in partnership with Buena Vista Social Club entitled Buena Vista Social Club Presents Manuel Guajiro Mirabal which was widely acclaimed and became another part of the Buena Vista Social Club collection. In his years of musical experience, Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal worked alongside some of the greatest Cuban legends in history, such as Ibrahim Ferrer, Omara Portuondo, Ruben Gonzalez, Compay Segundo and world famous guitarist, Ry Cooder.