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Buena Vista Social Club Bassist Dies at 76

Orlando "Cachaito" Lopez, the bassist for the internationally-renowned Buena Vista Social Club, died Monday in a Havana hospital due to complications from prostate surgery. He was 76.

Lopez grew up in Havana among a family 30 bass players. His father, Orestes, played piano, cello and bass, and often brought Orlando to sessions. Lopez originally wanted to play the violin but his grandfather made sure he switched to bass as part of the family tradition, which included his uncle, Israel "Cachao" Lopez, a Grammy-winning bassist considered to be the pioneer of mambo.

Over the years, Lopez played in mambo groups, the Cuban national Symphony and jazz bands, but he's most well known for his work with the Social Club, an ensemble of elderly Cuban musicians brought together by Ry Cooder, and the documentary that followed them. His steady, powerful bass lines led him to be called the "heartbeat" of the group, and he achieved critical success with his only solo album, 2001's 'Cachaito.' He is the seventh group member to pass away in this decade.

Dearly Departed Musicians

    Orlando "Cachaito" Lopez, Feb. 9: The "heartbeat" of Cuba's legendary Buena Vista Social Club, a group of semi-retired musicians living in Havana made famous thanks to the work of producer Ry Cooder, died of complications from prostate surgery. He was 76.

    Jose Luis Magana, AP

    Lux Interior, Feb. 4: The frontman of the legendary punk band the Cramps passed away due to a pre-existing heart condition.

    Dave Allocca, Getty Images

    Dewey Martin, Jan. 31: The drummer for the short-lived country rock pioneers Buffalo Springfield was found dead in Van Nuys, Calif. The cause of death is unknown. Martin added the backdrop to early hits penned by bandmates Neil Young ('Mr. Soul') and Stephen Stills ('For What It's Worth'). He was 68.

    Getty Images

    Hank Crawford, Jan. 29: The prolific saxophonist, who led Ray Charles' band, played with Jimmy McGriff and had a successful career in his own right, died at his home in Memphis. He was 74.

    Tom Copi, Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

    John Martyn, Jan. 29: The acclaimed British singer-songwriter, who worked alongside the likes of Eric Clapton and Phil Collins and released 20 albums throughout a 40-year career, died at a hospital in Ireland. He was 60.

    Samir Hussein, Getty Images

    Billy Powell, Jan. 27: The longtime Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist, who survived the beloved band's deadly plane crash in 1977, died at his home in Florida of undisclosed causes. He was 56.

    Michael Bush, WireImage

    Charlie Cooper, Jan. 22: The Telefon Tel Aviv star, left, was 31. The cause of death is currently unknown.

    Bpitch Control

    David 'Fathead' Newman, Jan. 20: The tenor sax player not only played with Ray Charles and other legends, but also had a successful solo career. He died of pancreatic cancer at 75.

    Getty Images

    Pedro Aguilar, Jan. 13: The mambo dancing legend known to most as 'Cuban Pete' was one of the genre's leading men in the 1950s. He died at the age of 81.

    AP Photo/The Miami Herald, Raul Rubiera

    Ron Asheton, Jan. 6: Along with Iggy Pop, left, the guitarist helped define the Detroit garage rock sound with the beloved Stooges. Although it hasn't been made official, it's believed that Asheton suffered a heart attack at his Ann Arbor, Mich. home. He was 60.

    Harold Cunningham, WireImage

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48 Comments

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hdclinks

"Conchaito" is one of my favorite albums...it tranports me to a tropical nightclub, dnacing, smoking good cuban cigars, and drinking cubra libras.
Click this http://www.solocigars.com

May 19 2009 at 3:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jason Skrew

Who?

February 13 2009 at 3:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
dano

Everyday AOL has a 'celebrity" death that nobody has heard of. Its every freakin day. Who really cares?

February 13 2009 at 3:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
d

c ya later "TACO HEAD" Adios Amigo. Well if there is a heaven he will be there humping his stand up base with a bottle of viagra.

February 11 2009 at 4:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ALBERT HATZEL

didn't pres prado record the super hit " cherry pink and, apple blossom white " ??????????? i rember his a a super musician !!!!!!!!!1

February 11 2009 at 3:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Maria

So sad to hear of his passing. Music legends are disappearing and there really aren't great musicians of the same caliber out there replacing them. May they all jam together in heaven! RIP "Cachito"

February 11 2009 at 3:04 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JIM STUTSMAN

It amazes me that ignorance propagates like rats.....I have an opportunity to go see some of these guys on the 22nd...i wish he was going to be there being a bass player myself. the nly way to defeat racism is to be informed...but if one has a closed mind on purpose then that is a choice....it is easy to lash out but harder to be educated. i might be a white guy but as a musician, I recognize my musical roots - thankfully in my lifetime, it has never had to be so exclusive.
my best to the family and i will still listen post mordem.....makes my roots stronger.

February 11 2009 at 2:14 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rbkbrder

Didn't Perez Prado do "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White?"
Aren't complications of prostate surgery "fuck ups from prostate surgery?"

February 11 2009 at 1:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
padilla681

Hey! You prejudicial people that see nothing but white, time to let it go and realize that your not the only people living on this earth.

Que vive La Raza!

February 11 2009 at 1:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rick

I know so little and Perez Prado is a vinyl record that I have in my collection, given to me by Sarah C, aka Minny Bopper. It is a truly great album that I can hear the second someone mentions anything to remind me of listening to that record. Why are so many of you hostile in the tone of your comments. Don't we have enough of this attitude in our world and when it comes to some things, you/we/me are willing to take up arms and fight a war, killing people, blowing places up and being extremely destructive. Music, I have usually felt is a peaceful, artistic expression, not an activity to fight about unless the subject of the music is intended to incite violence.

February 11 2009 at 12:55 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply