IBRAHIM FERRER
Orphaned at 12, from the ’50s to his retirement in 1991, Ferrer sang with Los Bocucos; when the call came from Cooder he was shining shoes and selling lottery tickets. His version of “Dos Gardenias” was a highlight of the record and concerts. Ferrer subsequently recorded several solo albums and toured extensively, winning a Grammy in 2004. He died in 2005, aged 78.