Máximo Francisco Repilado Muñoz Telles, known professionally as "Compay Segundo", was a Cuban trova guitarist, singer and composer.
Segundo at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba with a standing ovation in 2002
The tomb of Compay Segundo at the Cementerio de Santa Ifigenia in Santiago de Cuba. March 2014
Trova is a style of Cuban popular music originating in the 19th century. Trova was created by itinerant musicians known as trovadores who travelled around Cuba's Oriente province, especially Santiago de Cuba, and earned their living by singing and playing the guitar. According to nueva trova musician Noel Nicola, Cuban trovadors sang original songs or songs written by contemporaries, accompanied themselves on guitar, and aimed to feature music that had a poetic sensibility. This definition fits best the singers of boleros, and less well the Afrocubans singing funky sones or even guaguancós and abakuá. It rules out, perhaps unfairly, singers who accompanied themselves on the piano.
Casa de la Trova, Santiago de Cuba
The four greats of the trova from left: Rosendo Ruiz, Manuel Corona Sindo Garay, Alberto Villalón
Compay Segundo at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba