New York Yankees Legend Bernie Williams Will Join BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB Band on Broadway

New York Yankees Legend Bernie Williams will be joining the Tony and Grammy-winning band of Buena Vista Social Club for six weeks only from Thursday, October 22nd through Sunday, November 29th at the Schoenfeld Theatre on Broadway.

“I am excited about the opportunity to join Buena Vista Social Club because the music was part of my childhood growing up,” said Williams. “I remember my mother listening to this music on Sunday afternoons and it reminds me of wonderful times with my family when I was a kid. The opportunity to play that same music on Broadway in this show is truly a dream come true.”

Williams is not the only former MLB player to grace the stage at the Schoenfeld Theatre. Major League Baseball veteran and recording artist José Iglesias, known to music fans as Candelita, made history as the first Latino MLB player to debut on Broadway when he joined Buena Vista Social Club on August 27th as the Narrator for what was meant to be a six-week limited run. Due to popular demand, Iglesias will be staying with the show for another six weeks through November 15th, 2026.

“Jose Iglesias is a star in Broadway’s Buena Vista Social Club,” raved Matt Levy of the New York Post. “He slides into the ensemble with ease, like a great pinch hitter.”

Both Williams and Iglesias continue the production’s celebration of Latin heritage, culture, and music, joining the Tony & Grammy Award-winning Afro-Cuban band on stage that electrifies audiences nightly at Broadway’s Schoenfeld Theatre on West 45th Street.

The production also recently announced that television and film star Gina Torres (“Suits,” “Firefly,” “911: Lone Star”) will join the acclaimed Broadway production in the role of “Omara Portuondo” from Tuesday, October 13 through Sunday, November 29, 2026. Celebrated Latin artists continue to be drawn to the Schoenfeld to help bring this important and authentically Latin story to life.

Additionally, Tanairi Sade Vazquez, who is currently a swing and understudy in the company, will be taking over the role of “Young Haydee” from October 27th through November 15th during Ashley De La Rosa’s planned leave of absence.

Bernie Williams is a New York Yankees legend, accomplished guitarist and composer, Latin Grammy–nominated recording artist, and philanthropist whose career has uniquely bridged the worlds of professional sports and music.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Williams spent his entire 16-year Major League Baseball career with the New York Yankees, becoming one of the most celebrated by players of the franchise’s modern championship era. A five-time MLB All-Star and four-time World Series champion, Williams won four Gold Glove Awards and the 1998 American League batting title. He was also named the 1996 American League Championship Series MVP. His No. 51 was retired by the Yankees in 2015, permanently placing him among the franchise’s most honored players.

Music, however, has been a lifelong passion for Williams. He began his formal musical education as a teenager at Puerto Rico’s prestigious Escuela Libre de Música, where he studied classical guitar while simultaneously developing as an elite young athlete. His commitment to formal music education continued later in life at the renowned Manhattan School of Music, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Performance in 2016. He now serves on the school’s Board of Trustees.

A classically trained guitarist, Williams pursued music seriously throughout and after his baseball career, developing a distinctive style that blends jazz, classical, Latin, rock, and contemporary influences.

Williams released his debut album, The Journey Within, in 2003, followed by Moving Forward in 2009. Moving Forward earned a Latin Grammy nomination and featured collaborations with acclaimed artists including Bruce Springsteen, Jon Secada, and Dave Koz. Over the years, Williams has performed with an extraordinary range of musicians and at prestigious venues across the country.

In January 2026, Williams added another milestone to his musical career with a performance at New York City’s legendary Carnegie Hall, further demonstrating the depth and longevity of a musical journey that has extended well beyond his accomplishments on the baseball field.

Williams’ connection to Latin music is deeply personal. His Puerto Rican heritage and lifelong appreciation for Caribbean musical traditions have influenced both his playing and his artistic identity. That background makes his appearances alongside productions and artists celebrating Latin music and culture a natural extension of his career.

Beyond the stage and stadium, Williams is committed to music education, health advocacy, and charitable causes. He is also the author of Rhythms of the Game: The Link Between Musical and Athletic Performance, exploring the remarkable parallels between the discipline, creativity, preparation, and performance required of elite athletes and musicians.