(SOUNDBITE OF BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB SONG, 'CANDELA')Д¬ANTOR-NAVAS: The person who brought these musicians together was Juan de Marcos Gonzalez, who's a Cuban musician, a Cuban bandleader. They wanted that record that would hark back to a vintage Cuban sound. So Ry Cooder and Nick Gold decided to take the opportunity to bring together some more local talent in the studio. But the African musicians didn't make it to Havana. But it was going to be a record with African musicians from Mali, together with musicians from Santiago de Cuba. He had invited American guitarist Ry Cooder to Havana to produce a record. Nick Gold, at the time, was the president of the indie label World Circuit Records. Actually, what became the 'Buena Vista Social Club' album - it really was not supposed to happen. MARTIN: Can you tell us a little bit more about how this collaboration came to be?Д¬ANTOR-NAVAS: Yeah. You know, I had the pleasure of meeting those musicians. Personally, it mostly does bring me back to Havana at that time. MARTIN: Where does that music take you when you hear it, especially that song in particular?Д¬ANTOR-NAVAS: Well, just hearing that song, 'Chan Chan,' I mean, it really brings back so many memories. JUDY CANTOR-NAVAS: Thank you so much, Rachel. Joining us now to talk about the legacy of the record, music journalist Judy Cantor-Navas. The success gave a huge boost to many of the musicians themselves and created a whole new level of enthusiasm for this kind of music.

There were concerts, even a hit documentary about the group. MARTIN: The album sold millions of copies. Producers brought them together to recreate the music of pre-Revolutionary Cuba.Д«UENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB: (Singing in Spanish). It was an unlikely hit in the 1990s, an album of old-fashioned music from a group of legendary old-timers in Cuba's music scene, some well into their 70s and 80s. This month, we are marking the 25th anniversary of a beloved classic of Cuban music - the 'Buena Vista Social Club' is the name of the record and the group that recorded it.

Chan chan song singer