HAVANA, Cuba (AP) - The sweet, soulful voice of Ibrahim Ferrer rang out from Havana's historic Colon Cemetery Monday, bringing loved ones to tears as the Cuban singer of Buena Vista Social Club fame was laid to rest.

Ferrer. achieved greatness but never stopped being humble

Ferrer, who died Saturday of a digestive tract ailment at age 78, was buried before dozens of friends, relatives and tourists who came to pay their final respects. A recording of his Prefiero que tu vayas tune, or I Prefer You Go, was played, and lifelong friend Eduardo Rosillo gave the eulogy.

Ferrer became "a truly great singing figure on a universal scale, but never stopped being humble, accessible and human", said Rosillo, who met Ferrer when the two were teenagers in Cuba's eastern city of Santiago.

"He was like Cuban music: very spontaneous, very rich," Rosillo said after the service.

Relatives placed wreaths of flowers on the above-ground grave, creating a colourful tower reaching several feet into the air. Some relatives sobbed, while others quietly wiped away tears.
One nephew, Rene Hernandez, remembered a generous figure whose home was always filled with friends and family.

"Anyone who entered his house needing help left there with their problems resolved," Hernandez, 54, said.
Hernandez recalled that Ferrer loved big birthday parties, and would often celebrate his own with lively mariachi bands.

Ferrer was a leading voice with the hugely popular Buena Vista Social Club of vintage Cuban performers. During his career he travelled across the world, performing in Europe, Asia, Latin America and the United States, including New York's Carnegie Hall.

The singer, who always wore a cap and a smile, had returned to Cuba last Wednesday from a month-long tour to Europe. His rapid decline in health was unexpected, according to Granma, Cuba's Communist Party newspaper.

One tourist attending Monday's burial saw Ferrer perform in Barcelona last month.

"He seemed quite well, though there were moments that you could tell he was getting tired," said Fabrice St Martin, a French citizen who lives in Spain. "I have great respect for him, and am so happy to be able to witness this memorial."

A wiry, animated figure, Ferrer clearly enjoyed performing Cuba's traditional "son" music of the 1940s and 1950s for new generations of fans.

Among a group of older Cuban performers recruited by US musician Ry Cooder, Ferrer performed on the Buena Vista Social Club album that won a Grammy in 1998, and was among those appearing in the film of the same name.

In 1999, Ferrer was featured in one of a string of albums that followed, Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer, and won a Latin Grammy for best new artiste in 2000.

Two other well-known members of the original Buena Vista group, singer Compay Segundo and pianist Ruben Gonzalez, died in 2003.

Originally from Santiago, Ferrer was born on February 20, 1927, during a dance at a social club after his mother unexpectedly went into labour.

Ferrer was still a boy when he began singing professionally with Santiago groups in 1941. By the late 1950s, he was a well-known singer performing regularly with the late, great bandleader Pacho Alonso.

He also made guest appearances with other legendary names, including Benny More and Orquesta de Chepin.

Alonso's group moved to Havana in 1959, and Ferrer came along, remaining with the group for more than two decades. By the early 1980s, Ferrer had left the musical scene, but came out of retirement to perform with the Buena Vista group.

Cuba's state-run media honoured the singer Monday.
"Luckily, the loss of Ibrahim does not mean silence," said one article in Granma. "With his princely air ... he will continue singing boleros until the end of time."

Ferrer is survived by his wife, Caridad, and nine children, the newspaper said.

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