Later in life, Ferrer became a member of the globally winning Buena Vista Social Club. His rising popularity guide to collaborations by means of contemporary acts such as Gorillaz. Born at a dance in San Luis, near the metropolis of Santiago de Cuba, Ferrer's mother died when he was 12, leaving him orphaned plus forcing him to sing on the streets (busk) to earn money. They performed at private functions and the two youths managed to rub together enough cash to live.

In 1959 the collection enthused permanently to Havana, renaming themselves Los Bocucos, following a type of drum widely second-hand in Santiago. Though, he yearned to sing boleros. It was not awaiting almost 40 existence later, with the release of Ry Cooder's Grammy Award winning, Oscar nominated Buena Vista Social Association footage in 1999, that Ibrahim Ferrer's talent as a bolero vocalist would become widely known. It skin Ferrer's sole say plus phrasing, group head Roberto Correra's wealthy, complicated preparations plus outstanding guide trumpet, plus taut, musical live by the Bocucos.

In 1999 Ry Cooder recorded Ferrer's primary solo album, exposed on top of. Ferrer still toured internationally in Europe in 2005, and released his next solo recording, Buenos Hermanos, in 2003. He was buried in the Colon Graveyard, Havana.