Santo Domingo bids farewell to Rubby Pérez!
Santo Domingo, Apr 10 (EFE).-
Hundreds of mourners gathered in Santo Domingo on Thursday to bid farewell to Rubby Pérez, a beloved Dominican singer known as “the loudest voice in merengue.” Pérez died early Tuesday while performing at a popular nightclub in the capital of the Dominican Republic, in a tragic accident that claimed the lives of at least 220 people.
Fans of all ages, many dressed in black, stood in long lines outside the National Theater, where his casket was displayed adorned with his trademark hat and sunglasses.
At times, the Venezuelan flag covered the coffin, a nod to the country Pérez often called his “second homeland.”
Rubby Pérez, born Roberto Antonio Pérez in 1956, rose to fame in the 1980s as the lead vocalist for famed merengue bandleader Wilfrido Vargas.
He became a household name with hits like “El Africano,” before launching a solo career in 1986 that brought classics for Latin American culture such as “Volveré,” Buscando tus besos,” and “De color de rosa”, the song he was performing when the disaster occurred.
Dominican Minister of Culture Roberto Ángel Salcedo, speaking after leading a public honor guard with President Luis Abinader, called Pérez “a national treasure.”
“His passing has saddened the entire Dominican society,” Salcedo told reporters. Former Culture Minister Milagros Germán added, “His legacy will endure forever.”
The emotional tribute was filled with religious music and performances by two of Pérez’s daughters.
Among those attending was internationally renowned singer-songwriter Juan Luis Guerra, who called Pérez “a great friend, a wonderful colleague, and the most beautiful voice in merengue.”
Outside the theater, mourners shared their grief. “Rubby was more than an international artist. He was a great human being,” said Roberto Neris. Another fan, Ana María Henríquez, described him as “one of the greatest idols of Dominican music.”
A career born from tragedy
Pérez was born in Haina, a town about two miles west of Santo Domingo.
A car accident at age 15 shattered his dreams of becoming a professional baseball player, redirecting him toward music.
He would go on to become one of the most recognized voices in the merengue genre, a lively, percussion-driven style native to the Dominican Republic that has become a symbol of national identity.
The singer was the father of seven children and had a decades-long career that blended showmanship, vocal power, and emotional depth.
His performances earned him acclaim not only across Latin America but also in the US, where merengue gained popularity in cities like New York and Miami.
A national tragedy
The nightclub incident that took Pérez’s life also claimed several high-profile figures, including fashion designer Martín Polanco, former Major League Baseball players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco, and Nelsy Milagro Cruz, governor of Montecristi province.
Authorities have not released full details about the circumstances behind the deadly event. But tributes continue to pour in from around the world for a man whose voice defined a genre.
For many Dominicans, both at home and abroad, Rubby Pérez was more than a singer.He was a symbol of resilience, rhythm, and cultural pride.His voice may have gone silent, but his music will continue to echo across the Caribbean and beyond. EFE mf/seo
