Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal

Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal
Mirabal performing in 2015
Background information
Birth name	Manuel Mirabal
Also known as	Guajiro
Born	(1933-05-05)5 May 1933 Melena del Sur, Cuba
Died	28 October 2024(2024-10-28) (aged 91) Havana, Cuba
Genres	Guajira
Occupation	Musician
Instrument	Trumpet
Years active	1951–2024

Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal (5 May 1933 – 28 October 2024) was a Cuban trumpeter, best known for his work with the Buena Vista Social Club.^[1]

Mirabal learned trumpet at the age of 18 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 stints with various orchestras including ‘Orquesta del ICRT,’ the official orchestra of Cuban state radio and television.^[1]

In 1996 Mirabal became one of the Cuban musicians who joined American guitarist Ry Cooder for the Buena Vista Social Club collaboration. He went on to play a prominent role playing lead trumpet on both records and performances for the group, featuring in the 1999 movie Buena Vista Social Club. He later released solo works under the Buena Vista Social Club Presents... umbrella including an album which pays tribute to Cuban music legend Arsenio Rodríguez.^[2] In 2004 Mirabal 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.

Mirabal worked alongside Cuban musicians including Ibrahim Ferrer, Omara Portuondo, Rubén González, Compay Segundo.

Mirabal died in Havana on 28 October 2024, at the age of 91.^[3]

• Ibrahim Ferrer
• Rubén González
• Compay Segundo
• Omara Portuondo

• Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal at IMDb
• Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal discography at Discogs