When José Iglesias got a call inviting him to join Buena Vista Social Club on Broadway, the major league infielder thought it was a joke. “They were like, ‘José, we think you’re going to be a great fit for this show, for this musical,’” he tells Billboard days after his debut on the Great White Way. “And I was like, ‘Who are you talking to?’ They were like, ‘You.’”
On Aug. 27, the Cuban-born athlete and Latin pop artist known as Candelita made his Broadway debut as the Narrator in the Tony- and Grammy-winning musical — he also joins the ensemble for the Cuban classic “El Cuarto de Tula” at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. Iglesias makes history as the first Latin MLB player to grace the Broadway stage. Unlike predecessors like Ty Cobb (1911), Babe Ruth (1920s) or Jackie Robinson (1952) who appeared as themselves, Candelita joins the cast as a musical theater performer.
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Iglesias spent 13 seasons in the majors with the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Angels, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres and New York Mets. But this role lands beyond a sports-to-stage crossover: He grew up in Cuba hearing the music of Compay Segundo, Omara Portuondo and Ibrahim Ferrer.
“Every night is such a unique, magical experience,” says Iglesias, whose 2024 single “OMG” became a Mets anthem that year, and topped Billboard’s Latin Digital Song Sales chat. “It’s a privilege and a beautiful responsibility to have Cuban music on our shoulders on a stage like Broadway.”
Now, he is bringing his own story — and Cuban music — to a theater packed nightly with audiences. He talks about the experience with Billboard below.
You’ve played in packed ballparks, but what did it feel like to walk onto a Broadway stage for the first time?
Special. It’s a different energy. It’s completely different than a baseball field. It’s very fun, I’m not going to lie. Every night is such a unique, magical experience. You can notice the difference depending on the audience, too. Sometimes it’s more of a dancing-type theater; some nights it’s more of a listening theater. It depends on the people — and how many drinks [they’ve had]. It’s super fun.
José “Candelita” Iglesias makes his Broadway debut on the Buena Vista Social Club on Thursday, Aug. 27. Credit: Laurel HintonYou’re the first MLB player to appear as a narrator and musical performer on Broadway! When did the magnitude of that sink in?
It still hasn’t yet. When that phone rang, I thought it was like a joke. They were like, “José, we think you’re going to be a great fit for this show, for this musical.” And I was like, “Who are you talking to?” They were like, “You.” It’s been nothing but magic, nothing but great vibes. It goes way beyond Broadway. It goes beyond a musical. Those human beings who are representing Buena Vista Social Club onstage, they’re special. They work so hard to put this musical in the position that it is in tonight.
I have a big responsibility — a good responsibility, and a fun one, too — to continue to have Cuban music on my shoulder every night on a stage like Broadway. It’s more than a dream come true. I never dreamed about being an actor or performing on Broadway or any of that. And then, look, here I am. Life takes me this way, and I’m extremely happy and very humble about this great opportunity.
You were born and raised in Cuba. What does it mean to join Buena Vista Social Club and sing “El Cuarto de Tula” every night?
It’s an amazing responsibility. Siendo cubano, representando a Buena Vista Social Club en Broadway, y de la manera que la producción ha puesto este gran musical. Es único. As Cubans, we’re not only representing Buena Vista — we’re representing millions of Cubans. We’re representing a history that is unique, literally. Not just what they did, but how they did it. Juan de Marcos, how did he — cogió a Compay vendiendo cigarros — and put the whole thing together, and then it became the Buena Vista Social Club around the world? It’s very inspiring.
What were your earliest memories of the music?
You walk on every street in Cuba, my grandma and everybody was playing Compay Segundo, Omara Portuondo, Ibrahim Ferrer — icons of Cuban music. They were on every radio.
With Buena Vista Social Club, la historia is not just history, but the way it went down was special. They are that unique band that traveled around the world. Like Benny [Moré], like Celia [Cruz], it’s a privilege and a beautiful responsibility to have Cuban music on our shoulders on a stage like Broadway. It goes way beyond my expectations, way beyond my dreams. I’m just living it, enjoying it. Dancing, connecting, and I’m extremely happy.
José ‘Candelita’ Iglesias. Credit: Polk & Co. Courtesy of Polk & Co.Baseball was the dream that brought you to the U.S. How did music enter the picture?
I’ve been a baseball player since I was 7 years old. That’s the only thing I’d done until I got to record music and got involved in the art world. I came over when I was 17. I escaped from the Cuban national team in Canada, solo, and came to this country with a short and a T-shirt and a dream to become a big league player. That was literally the only dream I had.
I crossed the border and asked for political asylum, and everything started from there. Two years later, the Boston Red Sox gave me the opportunity to start playing professional baseball. I came up with the Red Sox and played for 15 years in the big leagues. Last year was my last active year. I’m not officially retired yet, but if there’s a baseball season next year, cool. If it happens, cool.
I was with the Mets in 2024 — that was the “OMG” season, and all that vibe. I sang at the stadium, and it was such a special year. Long story short: I came from Cuba, escaped from the Cuban national team, signed with the Red Sox, and now I’m on Broadway.
“OMG” reached No. 1 on a Billboard chart. Did that moment change what you believed was possible as Candelita?
I made a song, and the song connected. It was our lucky charm as a team, como un amuleto de la buena suerte. Every time we played that song, good things happened. In 2024, it connected and vibrated through the whole city. Everybody would go to Citi Field, sing and watch a good baseball game. It’s a beautiful bridge to get to people, to deliver a message.
José “Candelita” Iglesias makes his Broadway debut on the Buena Vista Social Club on Thursday, Aug. 27. Credit: Laurel HintonWhat’s next for José “Candelita” Iglesias?
Coming here to Buena Vista, I get to know the musicians and understand music a little more. We were chatting, and they were like, “Have you thought about doing something with a Cuban vibe — more modern, newer, your style?” My music is more Latin urban-pop.
Me gustó mucho esa idea. Creo que va a pasar algo mágico. Sería unir estos grandes músicos de la música cubana — cada uno tiene una biografía impresionante — y, a lo mejor, hacer mi próximo sencillo basado en raíces cubanas con una sonoridad actualizada.
I don’t know where it’s going to go. I don’t know what it’s going to sound like, but it’s going to be fun. It’s going to be real because it came out of nowhere. Just a bunch of guys having fun and connecting, and then we’ll see what comes out. But I’m pretty sure it will be special.
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