By Isabela Raygoza, billboard.com
The artist was among the victims of the Jet Set nightclub tragedy in Santo Domingo.
Dominican merengue singer Rubby Pérez died Tuesday afternoon (April 8) after being trapped in the rubble of a Santo Domingo nightclub whose roof collapsed in the early hours of the morning, Listín Diario confirmed just after 5 p.m. ET. The singer was 69 years old.
Billboard Español sent requests for information to his managers. Following the news, Pérez’s Instagram profile picture was changed to a black image.
The artist’s death occurred after the tragic collapse of the roof of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, where he was performing early Tuesday morning. The incident has claimed the lives of at least 60 people and left more than 160 injured, according to AP.
The collapse occurred approximately one hour after Pérez began his midnight performance. The iconic venue, known as one of the Dominican Republic’s most popular establishments, was holding more than 300 attendees when the roof collapsed, trapping dozens beneath the rubble. Authorities have reported that around 146 people have been rescued, and rescue teams are still searching for approximately 100 people who remain missing.
Born Francisco Arturo Pérez in Hato Mayor, Rubby Pérez rose to fame as the lead vocalist of Wilfrido Vargas’s orchestra before beginning a successful solo career in the 1980s. Known for timeless hits like “Volveré” and “Enamorado de ella,” Pérez became an international ambassador for merengue, earning praise and respect throughout Latin America and beyond.
Rubby Pérez first appeared on the Billboard charts with his self-titled debut album, which reached No. 15 on the Tropical Albums chart in 1987. His hit single “Enamorado de ella” earned him his first and only entry on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart, debuting and peaking at No. 29 in 1989. Pérez also achieved success on the Tropical Airplay chart, with four entries over the years. Among them, “Tú vas a volar,” which reached No. 9 in 2001.
More recently, Pérez collaborated with Romeo Santos, Toño Rosario, Fernandito Villalona, and Ramón Orlando on “15,500 noches.” The song marked his final contribution to the Billboard chart, reaching No. 13 on Tropical Airplay in 2022.
His band’s saxophonist also died in the incident.
This past Valentine’s Day, Pérez released his final single, “No voy a llorar.” He also had several concerts planned in the United States starting in May, including one scheduled for July 18 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Rescue operations at the collapse site continue.
Authorities urge anyone seeking updates on missing loved ones to contact the Emergency Operations Center in Santo Domingo.
