Radio personality and former CNN Español anchor Camilo Egaña sits down with renowned musician and actor Mel Semé at America Radio Miami for an intimate interview.
Known for his deep musical roots in the Buena Vista Social Club tradition, Semé opens up about his powerful journey from the streets of Havana to the stages of Europe — and now to the spotlight of New York City. In this revealing conversation, he shares what it means to personify the legendary Ibrahim Ferrer in the critically acclaimed, 10-time Tony-nominated Broadway production. Don’t miss this rich dialogue on heritage, passion, and the power of music to transcend borders.
(Music Intro) & Interview
Camilo Egaña: That’s Ibrahim Ferrer, one of the iconic singers of Cuban popular music, with that wonderful son. And he’s going to give me the introduction and the excuse to present my second guest, whose name is Mel Semé, a Cuban actor and musician. Mel Semé, so you have an idea, has a life as an immigrant that in some way resembles the one Ibrahim Ferrer had to live. Ibrahim Ferrer was born in San Luis, near Santiago de Cuba, a very poor man, extremely poor. He was orphaned at 12 years old and began singing in the streets to make a living.
And in a way, there’s a connection between Mel Semé, my second guest, and Ibrahim Ferrer, because when Mel Semé left Cuba, he had to earn a living singing in the streets of Europe, just as Ibrahim Ferrer once did.
What Mel Semé could never have imagined was that he would become a true Broadway star, in the stage version of Buena Vista Social Club.
Mel, welcome to De Regreso con Camilo. How are you?
Mel Semé: Thank you very much. I’m doing fantastically.
Camilo Egaña: I can imagine, man, you’ve really, as they say in Spain, “kissed the saint,” haven’t you? Is it true that when you were offered the role of playing Ibrahim Ferrer in the show, you hesitated?
Mel Semé: Yes, I hesitated, because I actually studied symphonic percussion and spent time playing jazz. Over time, I began doing more singer-songwriter music with a group we formed in California with some American musicians.
So I was a bit removed from Cuban music, and at the same time I felt it was a great responsibility to play Ibrahim Ferrer. And on the other hand, before this opportunity, I had never done theater in my life. So I thought it would be a bit of a stretch to change my whole life, move to New York—because I technically live in Barcelona, Spain—to take on the role and bring Ferrer back to life.
Camilo Egaña: What year did you leave Cuba?
Mel Semé: I left Cuba when I graduated from ELISA, the University of the Arts, in 2001. I worked in Liechtenstein, which is a country next to Switzerland, teaching at a music conservatory.
Camilo Egaña: But you were also with the symphony orchestras of Camagüey and the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba, right?
Mel Semé: Yes, that was before I left, but yes, I played with the Havana Symphony Orchestra, with the National Orchestra, and with the Symphony Orchestra of my city—because I’m from Camagüey, I’m a camagüeyano.
Camilo Egaña: Well, how do you feel in New York? Because New York is the biggest and the smallest all at once, isn’t it?
Mel Semé: New York is a very interesting city. I’ve come many times thanks to my work, while on tour, and I’ve always had mixed feelings about it. I love it, and it annoys me greatly at the same time, because obviously it’s the most intense city in the world, but it’s also the most interesting.
So I never thought I would come live in New York under any circumstances. I’ve always liked visiting, enjoying the lifestyle here, and sharing time with the incredible artists you find here. But well, I live in Barcelona. For me, Barcelona is the best place in the world to live, so I thought I would end up staying there.
Camilo Egaña: Hey Mel, what is the Broadway adaptation of Buena Vista Social Club like? Sell it to us—why should we go see it on stage?
Mel Semé: Look, even if you’re not Cuban, Caribbean, or Latin, you have to come see this play. If you are someone who has changed the place you were born in search of a better life, to reunite with family, or looking for love, this play will speak to your heart.
It’s a story about heartbreak, about families being separated, about reunion, about vindication. These are all universal values, and especially for us, people who have had to leave the land where we were born and settle on the other side of the world, I think this play has something to say to everyone.
Camilo Egaña: Did you ever imagine, when you were in Camagüey, that you’d be acting on Broadway?
Mel Semé: Never. Not only in Camagüey—I never imagined it, even when I was living outside Cuba or traveling through the United States. I never imagined I’d be here doing this job. Broadway has always been, for me, and theater in general, something foreign.
Performing and expressing myself not musically—because lately what I’ve been doing is singing songs on stage—but reciting lines as you do in theater, I never thought it would be something I’d do, much less on Broadway.
Camilo Egaña: Well, my friend, I want you to enjoy it a lot, and that each night you pinch yourself and say, “I’m here.” I wish you great success, may God bless you, and may the show go as well as possible. I’m going to tell you what theater people always say: “Break a leg,” which is how they say it in the theater. Take good care of yourself and enjoy every minute of your life—this is a temporary journey, it’s very short and it flies by. Thank you, Mel, for this interview. Take care.
Mel Semé: Thank you for the invitation.
Camilo Egaña: You’re going to listen to Convergencia by Ibrahim Ferrer. Enjoy it.
