PBS doc explores the many lives of 'Omara: Cuba's Legendary Diva'

"For many, Omara Portuondo is best known for her participation in the Buena Vista Social Club; but the nonagenarian has lived many lives before and after the formation of the internationally recognized Cuban group. The new PBS documentary, "Omara: Cuba's Legendary Diva," looks to reexamine and capture the beauty and the chaos of these other many lives."

"When we began, Omara was in her late eighties, and still touring extensively around the world. Yet despite the fact that she was still selling out venues across the globe, she was confronting ageism from promoters and journalists who only wanted to write about her 'final tour.' I felt that there was an opportunity not just to create a portrait of an iconic artist but to document how she responded to age bias with verve and panache and not just a little sauciness. Never count a Cuban woman down and out."

"Born into a mixed-race family in Havana on Oct. 29, 1930, at a time when such relationships were considered taboo, Portuondo began gracing the stage at age 17 by joining the dance group of the famed Tropicana Club. As a member of Cuarteto d'Aida in the 1950s, she sang alongside Nat King Cole and toured the U.S. while also recording albums. From the late 1960s through the 1980s, Portuondo found continued success as a solo act and even ventured into the world of film and television."

Omara Portuondo rose from Havana origins to international musical prominence across multiple eras. Born Oct. 29, 1930 into a mixed-race family, she joined the Tropicana Club dance group at 17 and sang with Cuarteto d'Aida in the 1950s, performing with Nat King Cole and touring the U.S. She sustained a solo career from the late 1960s through the 1980s and worked in film and television. Late-career worldwide touring and her role in the Buena Vista Social Club amplified global recognition. A PBS documentary frames her Afro-Cuban heritage, artistic resilience, confrontation with ageism, and navigation of Cuba’s political realities.

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