Afro-Cuban All Stars

Afro-Cuban All Stars is the legendary Cuban orchestra at the heart of the Buena Vista Social Club phenomenon — and one of the most celebrated ensembles in the history of Cuban music. Founded by producer and bandleader Juan de Marcos González, the group has earned four Grammy nominations and made many of its members international stars.
De Marcos conceived the All Stars in the mid-1990s as a tribute to the golden era of Cuban music, assembling a constellation of legendary performers including Ruben González, Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo and Omara Portuondo. The result was a global sensation that helped spark an international revival of traditional Cuban sound. The orchestra has since been featured in Wim Wenders’ Oscar-nominated Buena Vista Social Club documentary and several other films.
More than a nostalgia act, the All Stars have spent three decades expanding their creative range — incorporating contemporary Cuban styles and introducing new generations of musicians while staying rooted in son, bolero and guaracha. As The Times in London put it, they are “shaping the future of Cuban music.” De Marcos, a classically trained guitarist and conductor with deep roots in Havana’s musical culture, continues to lead the orchestra with the same vision that launched one of global music’s great success stories.