Compay Segundo

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

Related Topics:
November 18 - 1907 - July 13 - 2003 - Cuba - Musician - Songwriter

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Segundo was born Máximo Francisco Repilado Muñoz and brought up in the city of Santiago de Cuba.

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He became a songwriter and performer, well-known to fans of Cuban music.

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He was also the inventor of the armónico, a seven-stringed guitar-like instrument.

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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 voice is used also to designate a good friend).

Related Topics:
Stage name - Duet - 1950s - Baptism

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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.

Related Topics:
1997 - Buena Vista Social Club - Grammy

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Compay Segundo appeared in the film of the same title, made subsequently by Wim Wenders.

Related Topics:
Film of the same title - Wim Wenders

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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.

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"Chan Chan" was recorded by Segundo himself various times as well as by countless other Latin artists.

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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

Related Topics:
Fidel Castro - Vatican City - Pope John Paul II

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explained his longevity simply: mutton consommé and a drink of rum.

Related Topics:
Mutton - Rum

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He predicted that he would live to be 115, but died of kidney failure in Havana, twenty years short of his ambition, and three days before Celia Cruz.

Related Topics:
Kidney - Havana - Celia Cruz

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