Guillermo Portabales (1911-1970) was a unique performer of the Cuban guajira rhythm, whose influence and popularity has reached far beyond his native Cuba to North & South America and West Africa.

His music had a significant influence on the artists who eventually came together as Buena Vista Social Club (a cover of one of his most famous songs ‘El Carretero’ features on the multi-million selling Buena Vista Social Club album), as well as notable Senegalese artists Orchestra Baobab and Cheikh Lô. This collection of his classic 60s recordings was compiled by Nick Gold specifically for release on World Circuit in 1996. It has now been remastered specially for this first ever LP release.