1. Omara Portuondo won a Latin Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Tropical Album in 2009, a Latin Grammy Award for Best Traditional Tropical Album in 2023, a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, and she received three Grammy Award nominations in 2019 and a nomination in 2024.
Omara Portuondo joined the dance group of the Cabaret Tropicana in 1950, following her elder sister, Haydee.
Omara Portuondo danced in the Mulatas de Fuego in the theatre Radiocentro, and in other dance groups.
In 1958, pianist and composer Julio Gutierrez invited Omara Portuondo to sing for his ensemble in a series of recordings bridging jazz and Cuban music for the record label Velvet.
Haydee left the Cuarteto d'Aida in 1961 in order to live in the US, and Omara Portuondo continued singing with the quartet until 1967.
Omara Portuondo recorded "Y que se sepa", with one of the most successful Cuban bands of the late 20th century, Los Van Van.
Omara Portuondo recorded in 2008 a duet album with Brazilian singer Maria Bethania named Maria Bethania e Omara Portuondo.
Omara Portuondo remains a popular fixture on the local music scene, singing regularly at the Tropicana Club, the Delirio Habanero and the Cafe Cantante.
Omara Portuondo sang on the album Buena Vista Social Club in 1996.
Omara Portuondo remains a member of Buena Vista Social Club, being the only original vocalist to do so.