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COMPAY SEGUNDO - Compay Segundo

2006 digipack reissue of this self-titled release by one of the most influential Latin musicians of his time.

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.

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.

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.

  TRACK LISTING
01 Hey Caramba
02 El Pequinto E Coleto
03 Mi Son Oriental
04 La Calabaza
05 El Gallo Jando
06 Jaava Leva
07 Tu Novia Te Boto
08 Vicenta
09 Yo Canta En El Llano
10 Se Seco El Arroyiyo
11 Baya Y Tapa La Olla
12 El Parana
13 Cuembe Tangana
14 San Luisera
15 Como El Macao, Candela
16 Noche Buena
17 Cuando El Rio Suena
18 Tente En Pie
19 Yo Domino
20 Descripcion De Un Sueno

COMPAY SEGUNDO - Compay Segundo is available through Wagram, and distributed by Creative Vibes

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