From 1963 to 1972, Galbán performed with the legendary vocal group Los Zafiros, which blended Cuban music with R&B, calypso, bolero, and bossa and was one of the most successful Cuban groups of all time. He went on to work extensively on several Buena Vista Social Club solo projects with Ibrahim Ferrer, Omara Portuondo, CachaÃto López, and Guajiro Mirabal, and joined Ry Cooder for the 2004 Grammy-winning duo album Mambo Sinuendo