empty cell Orlando 'Cachaíto' López
Orlando "Cachaíto" López was a Cuban double bassist and composer, known as the "heartbeat" of the Buena Vista Social Club. Born in Havana in 1933 into a family of prominent bassists; his father Orestes and uncle Israel "Cachao" López were pioneers of mambo music. Cachaíto began playing the double bass at age 9 and by 17 replaced his uncle in the group Arcaño y sus Maravillas. Throughout his career, he played with various groups, including Orquesta Riverside and Irakere, and was a member of the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional. In 1996, he joined the Afro-Cuban All Stars and later became a key member of the Buena Vista Social Club. In 2001, he released his only solo album, "Cachaíto," which won the BBC Radio 3 Award for World Music in 2002. He passed away in Havana in 2009 at the age of 76. The products available from the artist Orlando 'Cachaíto' López include CDs.
