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In new ‘Buena Vista Social Club’ musical, a legendary Cuban album comes to life onstage

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" Buena Vista Social Club " musical is based on the Cuban musicians who came together in 1996 to record the bestselling album of the same name.

Omara Portuondo , the 94-year-old " Diva " of Buena Vista social Club , is the star singer of the musical.

Portuond, Barbarito Torres and Amadito Valdés spoke to NBC News exclusively from their homes in Havana .

The Buena Vista Social Club album was recorded in six days in 1996 in the historic Havana studio EGREM .

It sold over 8 million copies, won a Grammy in 1997 for best traditional tropical album and was added to the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress in 2022 .

The surviving members of the group are not directly involved in the show, but were consulted for the musical.

They hope the musical serves as an inspiration for younger generations.