People always said Arsenio liked to pick fights
He'd get really angry when people argued back
He'd stand there, listening
Then leap in the direction of the voice
But of course, he was blind
So they'd all run away
And whoever it was would say "Quiet, don't let him catch me"
And poor Arsenio would stumble about
And get really angry
Because people were nasty to him
He was a big fat guy, taller than anyone
He used to make me laugh
I swear, I won't smoke again
Well, just a little bit
And I won't drink either. No more of that
I used to drink a lot
I've a good bodyguard here. She won't let me
This is Arsenio Rodriguez It's his best photo
May 24, 1946
His band toured a lot in Mexico, and in Venezuela
Most of them are dead now
This one is still alive. He's nearly 100
His name is Pascualito. He plays the timbal
He died in Spain
The one thing I don't want is to die. Not yet, anyway
That Man up there, and my wife here...
...are making sure I'm still around to enjoy myself
You know, some people don't have much time left
As long as I have blood in my veins...
...l'll go on loving women
Women, flowers and romance are the most beautiful things in life
One night of romance... that has no price
I haven't forgotten it, and I'm 90 years old
I have five children
You met Salvador and Basilio. Salvador is the youngest
I have five children. But now I'm working on the sixth
I want to have one more
See you some other day
One day, out of the blue...
...there was a knock on my door
It was Juan de Marcos
I was shining my shoes at the time He said "What are you doing?"
I said "l'm just shining my shoes"
He said "l've been looking for you. Come with me"
I told him I didn't want to sing any more
But he said "No, man, I need you" So I ask him when
Tomorrow? I said. And he said "No, right now"
Well, let me have a shower No, no, right now he said
All I had time for was to wash my face...
...and wipe the shoe polish off my hands
So we came here, to the Egrem
And here, in the Egrem studios, I found Eliades Ochoa
He was with Compay Segundo. And Ruben was playing the piano
When Ruben saw me, he started playing...
That's a number I'd made popular in Cuba
It's called Candela, by Faustino Oramas 'EI Guayabero'
There goes a dancing rat, having a whale ofa time
While a mouse drums out a tune to brighten up the day
A cat comes along, too. So elegant and content
Good evening, friend he says to the drummer
Anyway, I started singing
And Ry, who was in the booth, must have been listening
He heard me...
...and decided to record it
So I said OK. And we recorded it
And that is how it all started
Fire! Fire! I'm burning up!
Faustino Oramas and friends, put this fire out forme!
Just dial seven zeros and the firemen will be right here
My name is Orlando Lopez 'Cachaito'
I want to tell you how I became a musician
I started playing I was nine
When I was 1 1 , I joined my aunt's orchestra
Starting with my great-grandfather, we all play the bass in the family
I was going to study the violin
But my grandfather said I had to play the bass. You know how it is
I was a bit of afraid of the bass
But in the end I got used to it
My style of playing is...
Well, I need to concentrate. I love this instrument
I've studied classical music, every genre
I don't know, to me music is like a game
I've played with many orchestras in my time
And this is how I met Ruben
I'd played with so many pianists, And he was the only one missing
Now it turns out we're a great duo
My great strength is that I have a good ear
I can also sight-read very fast
So before he plays a note, I already have it in mind
My name is Amadito Valdes. I am percussionist
I use my father's name as he was my source of inspiration
I followed in his footsteps
In the field of percussion, the timbal is very limited
Whoever plays it must be very aware of that...
...and use his imagination
Because this is an instrument which is rather limited...
...in its physical design, you could say
It's a humble instrument
But one that lends a lovely color...
...to popular dance music
My name is Manuel Mirabal Vazquez better know as 'EI Guajiro'
I started playing at the age 18
So I've been playing the trumpet for 47 years
It was great playing with all the compa?ros
If it hadn't been for the Buena Vista, they would have been forgotten
No one would remember lbrahim, Ruben, Compay Segundo
To see Compay, at the age of 90, playing the tres so well
And Ruben playing the piano
I think this is the key to the success of these recordings
My name is Barbaro Alberto Torres Delgado
In musical jargon, everyone knows me as 'Barbarito Torres'
I've played Cuban country music since I was ten
I play the laud, which is Arabic in origin
The Moors took it to Spain where it was modified
There they made a laud with a longer neck
The medieval troubadours introduced it to Cuba...
...where is modified again
This resulted in the Cuban laud which is the one I play
Tula's bedroom has gone up in flames
She fell asleep without blowing out the candle
Call the firemen
Bring lots of hoses
Tell them Tula's bedroom has gone up in flames
Barbarito is on the loose!
He's crazy
Arrest him
My name is Pio Leyva
'EI Montunero de Cuba'
My name is Manuel Licea, 'Puntillita'
Domino! Can't you see I'm a phenomenon?
You can't beat me, Puntillita
At dominoes, I'm number one
You might be the best singer. But at dominoes, I'm the best
- Shall we join them? - Wait till they call us
Hey, come to the studio!
Now I'm thrashing this guy at dominoes, I must go to the studio
- OK, you're winning three-two - We'll continue later
Let's see how the recording is going
- See? You can't play with me - Man, give me a chance
I'm happy to have had the opportunity...
...to co-ordinate and take part in this project
It's brought together all the great names of Cuban music...
...who'd been practically forgotten here
People like Ruben Gonzalez...
...one of the three greatest son piano players of all times
Ibrahim Ferrer, one of the greatest Cuban singers ever...
...who had sadly been forgotten for more than ten years
And people like Puntillita, Pio Leyva...
...Compay Segundo, Eladies Ochoa
This album will have an enormous impact...
...on Cuban music
Recording, please
There's a party at the ranch ofcompadre Don Ram?
The roastpig is ready. The locals are on their way
They're bringing the house down for Don Ram?'s birthday
The Comay dancers are coming. All the roads are jammed
The bongo, triple and guiro have all begun to play
Yourkisses rained down in a tempest oflove...
With uncontrollable desires tojoin ourlives in love
Yet in spite ofit all
Yourdeparture was my downfall
The end ofall my dreams
And they will not be revived unless that day returns
That day...
...ofourlast meeting...
...in love
Wheneverl askyou how, when and where...
...you always answer "Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps"
Look, what a beautiful building
It's extraordinary
- And these avenues are so beautiful - Just imagine!
You're calling Cuba?
So much activity
Look at the gun that guy has
All the greats are there
That's Charlie Chaplin
- Laurel and Hardy. Remember them? - The fat guy and the thin guy
And this is one of the great trumpet players
Which one is he?
Who was the greatest trumpet player?
The one who used to play under the stars
And played the highest note ever at that time
This one was blind, remember?
- He was a pianist. And her? - She must have been famous
It says it here
They're all here
- Who's the one in the middle? - The one with the saxophone?
See if I can remember his face
This is the life!
This is so beautiful
You can see the whole of New York from up here, like from the plane
There's a plane taking off now
They won't fly over this building
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
I thought the Statue of Liberty had a crown
You can't see it from here. You should look through the viewer
You can't see the crown from here
Yes, you need to get closer
- At least we know where it is - That's right
Let's move into the sun
You want sun? Let's go
Ruben, had you ever been here?
- Yes, many years ago - Who were you with?
Oh no, not up here. I went to the Statue
- But who did you go with? - With some tourists
Was that in the 1920s?
I don't know. I was about 30, and now I'm 80
I want you to know this is the first time...
...that I find myself in New York, in the US
I've always longed...
... to see this city
I'm not an American, And I can't speak English
But I'll learn a few words soon
So I can hold my own in this place
I wish I could bring my wife and children to see this
So they could see how beautiful it is
This is so lovely, so lovely
Look, Radio City
At least I'm getting to see it
I'm. so happy to be here. I never could have imagined
So beautiful. I'm. really happy
About two years ago
I decided to retire
I didn't want to sing any more I was very disillusioned
Life can be very hard
I was tired of singing and not earning anything
I tell you, my staff is like my mother
It's been with me for 58 years
And that's how long my mother's been dead
This Revolution is eternal
We believe in dreams