Grammy-winning Cuban musician and composer Compay Segundo, best known as the frontman for the Buena Vista Social Club, died of kidney failure on July 13 in Havana. He was 95. Despite a drastic political and social change in the country, the cigar-smoking and Panama-hat-wearing artist has brought joy to people over the nine decades.

Born Maximo Francisco Repilado Munoz, November 18th in 1907, Compay spent his early childhood in the small town of Siboney, Cuba. At the age of seven, he moved to Santiago, which greatly influenced his musical talent and later career. The town was the birthplace of "son", a Cuban music shaped up by African rhythms and Spanish lyricism. While playing the guitar and clarinet, Compay invented a seven-string guitar-like instrument called "aromonico" to add harmonics for son music. He toured and worked with a lot of musicians until he formed the duo Los Campadres, from which he got his nickname, with vocalist Lorenzo Hierrezuelo in 1942. In the late 1950s, Compay parted with Lorenzo and formed his own group Compay Segundo y sus Muchachos (meaning "Compay Segundo and his Boys") until 1960s, when Fidel Castro, leader of the Cuban Revolution, rose to power. Around that time, Compay almost retired from music and began working in a local cigar factory.

It was not until late 1980s, when he was in seventies(!), that Compay returned to music, releasing a number of acclaimed albums and touring in Cuba and Europe. The stage was set for his second and biggest success. With contribution from rock guitarist Ry Cooder, Compay was featured on the 1997's project 'Buena Vista Social Club', which earned him a Grammy award in 1998 and propelled him to international stardom. The album put a spotlight on long-forgotten Cuban artists including Omara Portuondo, Ibrahim Ferrer and himself, and "son" music. The group was also featured on the film of the same name directed by German filmmaker Wim Wenders.

Surprisingly, Compay became more prolific in his nineties, releasing his solos 'Lo Mejor De La Vida' (1998), 'Calle Salud' (1999) and several compilations. Compay Segundo's contribution to Cuban music is temendous, most notably he wrote over 100 classic songs such as 'Chan Chan'.