[image1_left](Prensa Latina - Cumbancha) Havana, Cuba - Veteran Cuban musician Ibrahim Ferrer was paid tribute at his home by family, musicians and friends on his 77th birthday, with a surprise party including a giant cake. Ferrer is one of the Buena Vista Social Club stars who joined together in the 1990´s to revive old Cuban music glories. He could not pick up his recently won Grammy Award for best traditional album because the US government refused to issue him a visa to attend the awards ceremony in Los Angeles on February 8. Cuban authorities denounced Washington´s boycott, which extended to another six Cuba-based artists.

Guitarist Manuel Galban, another Grammy-award winner who was not able to attend, visited Ferrer to wish him a happy birthday. "Currently Ibrahim Ferrer has a stronger, more tuned voice than 45 years ago," joked Galbán. "I don't know what this man has in his throat, he has a gullet of steel." Born on February 20, 1927 in San Luis, Santiago de Cuba, Ferrer has toured Spain, Germany, France, the United States and Great Britain.