Compay Segundo

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Compay Segundo (November 18, 1907 – July 13, 2003), was a Cuban musician and songwriter.

Segundo was born Máximo Francisco Repilado Muñoz and brought up in the city of Santiago de Cuba. He became a songwriter and performer, well-known to fans of Cuban music. He was also the inventor of the armónico, a seven-stringed guitar-like instrument.

In his early years he played the guitar, the clarinet and the bongos. He also played the congas.

His curious stage name derives from the fact that he played second voice in a popular duet of the 1950s called Los Compadres (compadre, or compay for short, in Cuba means “baptism brother”, but as a colloquialism is used also to designate a good friend).

However, international fame only came in 1997 with the release of the Buena Vista Social Club album, a hugely successful recording which won several Grammy awards. Compay Segundo appeared in the film of the same title, made subsequently by Wim Wenders.

His most famous composition is “Chan Chan”, the opening track on the Buena Vista Social Club album, whose four opening chords are instantly recognizable all over the world. “Chan Chan” was recorded by Segundo himself various times as well as by countless other Latin artists.

At a fiesta he sang to Presidente Fidel Castro, who took his pulse and joked about his vitality despite his 90-plus years. “Who could have imagined that?” he asked when he found himself at the Vatican City, performing “Chan Chan” before Pope John Paul II. He explained his longevity simply: mutton consommé and a drink of rum.
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  • Cien Años de Son
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  • Las flores de la vida
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  • Buena Vista Social Club
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  • Yo Vengo Aquí
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  • Susi_Bellamy

    Todo un icono xD, aún recuerdo que me llevarón a verlo cuando era niña, quede impresionada con él y sus musicos, ellos si sabián tocar toda clase de instrumentos.

    Friday evening
  • genitivodeautor

    Uno de los grandes de la música del siglo XX

    23 days ago
  • diegolr87

    Caramba señores ¡!

    March 2012
  • lorrabaquio

    MAESTRO 3

    February 2012
  • cmbc

    saludo compay!!

    December 2011
  • georgediril

    I'm so sorry that i couldn't listen you live. Thank you so much for leave us these musics..

    December 2011
  • almagal

    Master

    December 2011
  • siavashvahid

    MAESTRO

    October 2011
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