By Jay Amberg Bloomberg Lifestyles
Havana, June 6 -- Compay Segundo, the 93-year-old Cuban singer with the
Grammy Award-winning band the Buena Vista Social Club, has canceled some
scheduled appearances, according Deutsche Presse-Agenturno dpa.
Segundo is also known as the consummate cigar aficionado.
DPA reported that fatigue and not a serious illness, as reported by other
news agencies, has forced Segundo to cancel some concerts this spring and
summer.
Earlier this week a report from Agence France Presse said the Cuban singer
had canceled his concerts for the rest of the year because of a serious illness.
Segundo, whose real name is Francisco Repilado, was first reported ill in
mid-May by Granma, Cuba's state newspaper. Granma didn't disclose the nature of
the illness, and hasn't given an update on Segundo's condition.
According to AFP, Tollwood, the Munich, Germany-based concert agency which
had scheduled Segundo to perform on June 22, the singer "has backed out of
shows because of a serious illness.''
DPA said Ines Hernandez, who together with the singer's son, is in charge of
the musician's Havana office, denied that Segundo was suffering from any grave
illness.
Hernandez told DPA Segundo was suffering from fatigue from too many trips
and tours outside Cuba. She said his doctor has recommended rest and no
international shows for a while.
AFP said Segundo canceled an appearance in May at Cubadisco 2001, a music
festival in Cuba, after he was reported to be suffering from depression
following the on-stage death of Buena Vista Social Club violinist Pedro
Depestre.
Depestre died from an apparent heart attack while on tour with the band in
Europe this spring.
Global cigar aficionados saw Segundo when he made an appearance in February
at the third international cigar festival in Havana.
He sang and played his guitar at the opening event for the festival in
Havana's Cathedral Square and appeared at the festival banquet at the Tropicana
Nightclub, where he auctioned off his signature Panama hat for $17,500.
The proceeds of the sale went to health care services for Cuban children.
Segundo also received a special award from Habanos SA, Cuba's global
marketer and distributor for its cigars, for advancing the reputation of Cuban
cigars, music and culture throughout the world.
Segundo was born in Santiago, Cuba, in 1907.
In the documentary film, "Buena Vista Social Club,'' Segundo said he's
been smoking cigars since he was a boy and he said he worked in the Montecristo
factory as a teenager.
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