Compay Segundo
Photo: Javier-Salas
Source: All Music
Born Máximo Francisco Repilado Muñoz on 18 November 1907 in Siboney, Cuba, vocalist, Compay Segundo, performed as Francisco Repilado during the earliest years of his career. He is thought to have begun composing in 1922. Segundo's significance in Latin recording is that of being one of the earliest Cuban musicians who romped through Havana's golden years before Castro's assumption to power in 1959 and, like other Cuban musicians, his later comeback in the latter nineties. Segundo also examples the son, originating in the first decade of the century as a meeting between two different styles of rumba, Afro-Cuban and traditional Cuban. "Son" translates to "rhythm" in English.
Segundo was raised in Santiago after age nine, where his first performances were in the Municipal Band of Santiago de Cuba prior to 1934, the year he moved to Havana, there also to perform in the Municipal Band. Segundo variously played clarinet, guitar and tres (six-string Cuban guitar) during different periods of his career. One source has him inventing his armónico, a seven-string guitar, by that time. In 1936 he traveled to Mexico City as a member of the Hatuey Quartet and made his first recordings, though we can find no documentation of them. Returning to Cuba, he then made records with the Trío Cuba for RCA Victor. It was then back to Mexico City to participate in 'Tierra Brava', a film released to theaters in 1938. He also appeared in 'México Lindo' that year. 'Billboard' newspaper has him releasing between 45 to 50 records in the forties, little known about any of them.
'Por qué sentirlo' Francisco Repilado w Evelio Machín and his Cuarteto Hatuey
'Why feel it'
Bolero son recorded 14 June 1937 in Havana Matric BS 010833 Victor 82118
Trumpet: Óscar Velasco O'Farrill (Florecita) "Lute" / backing vocal: Francisco Repilado
Guitar: Armando Dulfo Maracas / vocal: Evelio Machín
Composition: Evelio Machín
'Dame un trago tabernero' Francisco Repilado w Evelio Machín and his Cuarteto Hatuey
'Give me a drink at the tavern'
Capricho son recorded 14 June 1937 in Havana Matric BS 010834 Victor 82118
Trumpet: Óscar Velasco O'Farrill (Florecita) "Lute" / backing vocal: Francisco Repilado
Guitar: Armando Dulfo Maracas / vocal: Evelio Machín
Composition: Rafaek Oriz (Manungo)
Segundo formed a duo with Lorenzo Hierrezuelo in 1942 called Los Compadres. Much later albums contain their early recordings: 'Cantando Enel Llano' bears tracks from 1949 to 1951. 'Sentimiento Guajiro' carries songs from 1949 to 1955, the year Segundo was replaced by Lorenzo's brother, Reinaldo. It was with Los Compadres that Repilado had changed his name to Compay Segundo (Second Friend), Hierrezuelo being Compay Primo (First Friend).
'Yo Canto en el Llano' Compay Segundo w Los Compadres
'I Sing in the Plain'
Sometime 1949-51
Compay Primo: Lorenzo Hierrezuelo
Composition: Hierrezuelo / Repilado
'El Paraná' Compay Segundo w Los Compadres
The Paraná is a 3,030 mile river running through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina
Sometime 1949-51
Compay Primo: Lorenzo Hierrezuelo
Composition: Hierrezuelo / Repilado
'Sentimiento guajiro' Compay Segundo w Los Compadres
'I will heal the feeling'
Sometime 1949-55 in Havana
Compay Primo: Lorenzo Hierrezuelo
Composition: Hierrezuelo / Repilado
'Mi Son Oriental' Compay Segundo w Los Compadres
Sometime 1950
Compay Primo: Lorenzo Hierrezuelo
Composition: Lorenzo Hierrezuelo
After Segundo's partnership in Los Compadres ended Segundo formed Los Muchachos. Again, a much later album, 'Balcon De Santiago', holds Segundo recordings from 1956 to 1957. That is, it contains the twelve tracks on Segundo's 1957 album, 'Son Oriental', + three more.
Upon Castro's assumption to power in 1959 music in Cuba went into limbo. Segundo returned to his old job at the H. Upman cigar factory. He retired from that in 1970, having put in a total of 18 years with the company. He continued, though, to play music, with his ever-present cigar. Segundo performed in groups in hotels in the early eighties and toured to the United States in 1989. In 1994 he took the Son to Spain to play aside Flamenco. The album, 'Yo Vengo Aquí' was released in 1996, followed the next year by 'Musique Traditionelle Cubaine'.
'Guantanamera' Patriotic song by Compay Segundo
Live in Spain 1994
Music: Joseíto Fernández or García Wilson From poem by José Martí
'Yo Vengo Aquí' ('I Come Here') Compay Segundo
1996 From the album 'Yo Vengo Aquí' on Gasa 147832 5 / 1996
Composition: Repilado
Segundo's resurrection in the latter nineties was largely due to the 1997 release of 'Buena Vista Social Club', an album to which Ry Cooder was instrumental, winning a Grammy. Segundo performed only one track on that LP ('Chan Chan') but it traveled well.
'Lo Mejor de la Vida' saw release in 1998, after which several more albums would follow during the several years left to Segundo. He performed 'Chan Chan' for Pope John Paul II in February 2000 at the Vatican.
'El Camisón de Pepa' ('Pepa's Nightgown') Compay Segundo
Aug 1997 in Madrid From the album 'Lo Mejor de la Vida' ('The Best in Life') 1997
Principal personnel:
Armonico / vocal: Segundo
Guitar: Benito Suárez / Pedrito Ibáñez Bass: Salvador Repilado
Composition: Pedro Flores
'El Camisón de Pepa' ('Pepa's Nightgown') Compay Segundo
24 or 25 April 1998 at the Olympic Theater in Paris
Composition: Pedro Flores
'Chan Chan' Compay Segundo w the Buena Vista Social Club
1 July 1998 at Carnegie Hall in NYC
Composition: Repilado 1984
'Macusa' Compay Segundo y sus Muchachos
1999 Heineken concert in São Paulo, Brasil
'Ataidi (Las flores de la vida)' Compay Segundo
From the 2000 album 'Las flores de la vida' on Nonesuch 85502-2
Composition: Repilado
'Guantanamera' Patriotic song by Compay Segundo
July 2000 at the Vitoria Jazz Festival in Spain
Music: Joseíto Fernández or García Wilson From poem by José Martí
Segundo remarked that his longevity was due to mutton and rum before dying at age ninety-five of kidney failure in Havana on 13 July 2003 [The Guardian / Independent]. His band continued onward as Grupo Compay Segundo [Wikipedia].
Sources & References for Compay Segundo:
VF History (notes)
Audio of Segundo:
Buena Vista Social Club:
Album (recorded 1996)
Ensemble (formed 1996)
Film (directed by Wim Wenders / 2010)
Compositions: Music Brainz Second Hand Songs
Documentaries:
Compay Segundo (written and directed by Claude Santiago / 1996)
The legacy of Cuban musician Compay Segundo and his unusual guitar (CGTN America / unknown)
Interviews:
1998 (with Betto Arcos)
2000 (with Rafael Lam)
Recordings: Catalogs:
Recordings: Sessionographies:
DAHR (Cuarteto Hatuey led by Evelio Machín / 1937)
DAHR (Francisco Repilado / 1937)
DAHR (Compay Segundo / 1937)
DAHR (Trío Cuba / 1937)
Florida International University (Francisco Repilado w the Cuarteto Hatuey / 1937)
Repertoire:
(music by Joseíto Fernández or García Wilson / lyrics from the Cuban patriotic poem by José Martí / 1929)Other Profiles:
Jason Ankeny (All Music)
Yadiel Barbón Salgado (Radio 26)
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