Buena Vista Social Club to play the White House in latest sign of Cuban thaw

The Cuban musical ensemble Buena Vista Social Club will make history on Thursday by playing at the White House, according to CNN.

{mosads}The group will be the first Cuba-based act to perform at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in half a century when its members play for guests at a Hispanic Heritage Month reception.

The White House’s invitation is a sign of U.S. and Cuba’s effort to normalize relations after five decades of tension that started during the Cold War.

The group, which now tours as Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, is in the midst of its farewell tour. It attracted widespread fame in the late 1990s by reviving Cuban music that was popular before the country’s communist revolution. 

Obama is expected to speak at the reception, which will also be attended by Cuba’s ambassador to the U.S., CNN reported.