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Sebastián Yradier was a prominent Spanish Basque composer of the Romantic era, best known internationally for creating the iconic habanera 'La Paloma'.Born in Lanciego, Álava, Spain. Trained in music, became a singing teacher at the Madrid Conservatory. Traveled extensively, including to Cuba, where he absorbed local influences that shaped his most famous works. Composed salon music, operettas, and especially popular songs. Died in obscurity in Vitoria-Gasteiz. His melodies, particularly 'La Paloma', achieved unparalleled global popularity after his death.

• The authorship of 'El Arreglito', another habanera by Yradier, became famous indirectly: Georges Bizet adapted its melody for Carmen's 'Habanera' in his opera 'Carmen', initially believing it to be a folk song. When Bizet learned of its true composer, he acknowledged Yradier.
• Yradier's death remains somewhat shrouded. He died relatively young at 56 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, reportedly in poverty and obscurity, possibly due to illness or personal struggles after returning from America. The exact reasons are not definitively documented.
• Despite his relatively short life and limited fame during it, 'La Paloma' became one of the most recorded and performed songs in history, spreading across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Its journey transformed it into a global folk phenomenon, far exceeding Yradier's own renown.