Rubby Pérez, one of merengue music’s most recognizable voices, died Tuesday at age 69 after the roof of the Santo Domingo nightclub where he was performing collapsed.
Pérez, known for hits like "Volvere" and "Enamorado de Ella," was on stage at the Jet Set nightclub when a blackout occurred, followed by the roof crashing down in the early hours. His manager confirmed his death, and eyewitnesses reported the disaster left dozens of people dead. The Dominican Republic declared three days of mourning in response to the tragedy.
Born on March 8, 1956, in Bajos de Haina, near the capital, Pérez initially dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player. But a traffic accident at age 15 left him with permanent leg injuries, ending his baseball aspirations.
Instead, Pérez turned to music, studying at the National Conservatory of Music in Santo Domingo. In the late 1970s, he began his music career and earned the nickname “The Loudest Voice of Merengue.” After performing with renowned merengue producer Wilfrido Vargas’s orchestra, Pérez went solo in 1987, with his songs reaching Billboard charts.
Pérez’s daughter, Zulinka, told reporters she escaped the collapse, but her father did not survive.
Vargas, in an Instagram post, said he was “devastated” by the loss of his friend and idol of merengue.
