September 7, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1783 of Cuba and the U.S. Mr. Ferrer paved the Grammy for Best Traditional Tropical Latin On behalf of the Roderick and Stark fami- way for generations of Cuban singers to come Album of 2003, but Mr. Ferrer was denied a lies, I applaud the exemplary contributions of and it is my hope that their music will continue visa to enter the United States for the the San Lorenzo Homes Association. The As- awards ceremony last year. to reach the hearts of Americans and people His last performance in New York was in sociation has demonstrated its leadership to throughout the world. April 2003. He was on a European tour in the maintain the integrity of this planned commu- I would like to submit for the RECORD an week leading up to his death. nity and its commitment to quality service de- obituary from the August 8th edition of the Mr. Ferrer is survived by his wife, Caridad livery to meet the needs of Village residents. New York Times. Dı´az, 6 children, 14 grandchildren and 4 great [From the New York Times, August 8, 2005] grandchildren, Ms. Romero said. f IBRAHIM FERRER, 78, CUBAN SINGER IN f ‘‘BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB,’’ DIES IN CELEBRATION OF 43 YEARS OF TO COMMEMORATE THE 60TH JAMAICAN INDEPENDENCE (By Ben Ratliff) ANNIVERSARY OF THE SAN Ibrahim Ferrer, the Cuban singer whose LORENZO HOMES ASSOCIATION life included one of popular music’s most tri- HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL umphant second acts, died on Saturday in OF NEW YORK Havana. He was 78. The cause was multiple HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK organ failure, his manger, Carmen Romero, OF CALIFORNIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES announced. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wednesday, September 7, 2005 Mr. Ferrer was at the center of the Buena Wednesday, September 7, 2005 Vista Social Club, a phenomenon that Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to brought long-delayed international fame to a Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, Sep- recognize the tremendous contributions that group of older Cuban musicians thanks to a tember 10, 2005, the San Lorenzo Homes As- Jamaican Americans have made to our soci- Grammy-winning 1997 album produced by Ry sociation in San Lorenzo, California will cele- ety and to join with them in celebrating their Cooder and a subsequent film by Wim Wend- brate 60 years as one of the oldest home- 43rd anniversary of independent rule on Au- ers, both by that name. Besides offering owners’ associations in the United States. American audiences a musician’s-eye view of gust 6, 2005. Cuba, the film set up Mr. Ferrer as a particu- During World War II, thousands came to the Jamaicans have been immigrating to the larly sympathetic figure—tall, distinguished San Francisco Bay Area to work in the ship- United States for centuries and have undeni- and lively, an excellent bolero singer who yards. In response to the need for housing, ably left their mark on cities throughout our used space and silence in his relaxed elegant David D. Bohannon purchased rich farmland Nation. Their contributions can be seen at the delivery to increase the drama, a man who south of the San Lorenzo Creek where abun- center of our neighborhoods and industries, had been rolled over by history and was now dant fruit and vegetable crops were grown. everywhere from New York to California. They simply trying to enjoy an absurdly lucky sit- On May 18, 1944, builders broke ground on uation. are skilled business people, engineers, doc- the first home in the Village tracts, which tors, lawyers, and have produced some of our At the time that he war enticed out of re- launched the wartime construction of the tirement to make the album, Mr. Ferrer was Nation’s greatest leaders including former living on a small state pension and shining planned community. Bohannon applied a Secretary of State, General Colin Powell, and shoes in Havana for extra money. mass production method, the reverse of the basketball star Patrick Ewing. He was not interested in recording any- normal prefab process, by moving the factory Despite the many challenges that this group more; he had retired from singing in 1991. to the housing site. Each worker was trained has faced both in Jamaica and the U.S. they ‘‘An angel came and picked me up and said, to do a single part of the job. The assembled ‘Chico, come and do this record,’ ‘‘he said in continue to hold fast to the Jamaican spirit of houses rolled off the line at the rate of one perseverance and continue in an extraordinary 1998. ‘‘I didn’t want to do it, because I had every seven hours. given up on music.’’ way to defy the odds. Theirs is a history of an The first houses had a ‘‘war worker’s room’’ Born in 1927 at a social club dance in the effort that while marked with a host of suc- with a separate entrance to help meet the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba—his mother cesses and some failures, just like all nations, housing shortage. The 1945 three-bedroom went into labor on a night out—Mr. Ferrer’s has shown that Jamaica is in a much better homes were priced at $5,950. Some rented for first professional involvement with music position today than when it became the first came at age 13, a year after he became an or- $55 per month. With the slogan ‘‘Every Lot a English-speaking Caribbean nation to assume phan, when he joined a band, Los Jo´ venes del Garden Spot’’ and In-Door-Outdoor Living, the responsibility of nationhood. Son. San Lorenzo Village grew at the rate of 1,329 Jamaica’s record has proven that a rel- Later he sang with groups that included houses per project. Conjunto Sorpresa, the Orquesta Chepı´n atively small but powerful nation can take Chove´n (with which he had a local hit, ‘‘El Land was set aside for schools, churches, stores, parks, restaurants, a movie theater and charge of its own affairs and be a vital and vi- Platanal de Bartolo,’’ in 1955) and the Beny brant member of the international community. ´ the Nimtez Freeway, which was built in 1953. More orchestra, with which he was a back- Instead of tearing itself apart as other devel- ground vocalist; in 1953 he began working The construction headquarters was turned into oping and developed nations have done, Ja- with Pacho Alonso’s band, Maravilla de a playground, community hall and the San Beltra´ n, in Santiago. The band later moved Lorenzo Homeowners’ Association offices. maica and Jamaicans have held firm through from Santiago to Havana and called itself The Association is controlled by a board of thick and thin. Los Bocucos. directors elected annually on staggered terms Having earned its place among the best- For most of his career Mr. Ferrer generally known developing countries at the United Na- sang uptempo numbers, guarachas and sones, of three years each. The first meeting was held on April 5, 1945. After a few months, with tions, whether in international diplomacy, cul- not the slow romantic boleros, even though ture or excellence in sports Jamaica has been he loved them. But his chance finally came the number of homes increasing so rapidly, it on ‘‘The Buena Vista Social Club,’’ when Mr. became apparent that it was necessary to able to move far forward. Today, its people Cooder and Juan de Marcos Gonza´ lez, the al- have paid employees to devote their full time enjoy some of the longest life spans in the bum’s musical director, persuaded him to to Homes’ Association work. Western Hemisphere, about 74 years, poverty sing songs like ‘‘Dos Gardenias,’’ which he Through the years, the Association, with its has dropped dramatically in recent years, edu- had learned decades before when singing volunteer Board of Directors and professional cational opportunities continue to escalate, ´ with More. management, has been successful in ensuring demonstrating the nation’s commitment to in- In 1998, the Cuban Egrem label released vest in its people’s future. ‘‘Tierra Caliente,’’ an album of older songs the appearance, safety, and financial account- he had made with Los Bocucos. In 1999 the ability of San Lorenzo Village. Jamaica has come so very far in the last 43 British World Circuit label (with Nonesuch Since 1945, San Lorenzo Village has grown years and I look forward to its continued in the United States) released Mr. Ferrer’s from its original 1,329 homes to 5,686. The growth and prosperity in the future. Jamaica first solo album, and in 2003 his second, value of San Lorenzo Village homes has in- and Jamaicans will always hold a special ‘‘Buenos Hermanos’’; both were produced by creased over eight thousand percent over the place in my heart. It is impossible to imagine Mr. Cooder. In ‘‘Buenos Hermanos’’ Mr. past sixty years. New York or Harlem without the contributions Cooder took more artistic liberties, stirring I have a personal connection to the San of Jamaicans. They are an ever-present and the very un-Cuban accordion and the gospel Lorenzo Homes Association. My wife, Debo- important part of our community from whom a singing group the Blind Boys of Alabama into the mix. rah Roderick Stark, was born in San Lorenzo great deal of our Nation’s diversity is derived. Though by this time he was in his 70’s, Mr. and her parents, Frank and Mary Roderick, I would like to submit the following state- Ferrer won a Latin Grammy for Best New are long-time residents and members of the ment from Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Pat- Artist in 2000. ‘‘Buenos Hermanos’’ won a Association. terson to commemorate this historic occasion.

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