EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been updated following the confirmation of the artist’s death.
Conflicting information regarding Rubby Pérez’s status spread online after the tragic roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in the Dominican Republic, where he was performing early on Tuesday (April 8). His death was confirmed shortly after 5 p.m.
The 69-year-old merengue artist from the Dominican Republic — celebrated for Billboard hits including “Tu Vas a Volar,” “Enamorado de Ella,” and “15,500 Noches” in collaborations with Romeo Santos, Toño Rosario, Fernandito Villalona, and Raman Orlando — was reportedly discovered alive amidst the rubble, as stated by his daughter, Zulinka Pérez.
“He’s inside, and we pray to God for his swift recovery,” she told local reporters on Tuesday morning. “He’s injured, but he’s in there; they located him singing. He commenced to sing so they would hear him. He has always advised me: ‘If anything ever happens, shield me from being photographed.’”
Zulinka, who also serves as Pérez’s backup singer and was present during the roof collapse, shared, “I’m his backup singer — my spouse and I are backup vocalists. My husband shielded me, threw himself over me, and ended up trapped. He urged me, ‘Get out fast.’ The musicians managed to escape; the bass player is in critical condition; I believe he underwent surgery at the hospital. And one of the saxophone players has died.”
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Meanwhile, various local news outlets reported that the artist was “stable and receiving treatment at Centro de Medicina Avanzada (CEDIMAT)” in Santo Domingo. The hospital issued a statement on social platforms but did not specify if Pérez was among the patients. “As of this afternoon, we have admitted six patients to our facility. Their families have identified them, and they are in stable condition following care from our medical team.”
As updates regarding the artist’s location circulated, his brother made a statement to local media Tuesday afternoon, refuting claims that he had been found and taken to a hospital.
“At this time, he has not been rescued from the debris,” a family member reported. “He has not been transported to any medical facility. Considering the elapsed time since the incident, which is now over 14 hours… only a miracle from above can work. Rubby remains trapped; we have yet to rescue him. We pray he is alive. We are disseminating this news as a family, and I want it to be accurate.”
The roof collapse resulted in more than 60 fatalities and over 160 injuries, as per multiple reports. The reason for the roof’s failure remains unknown.
Billboard has reached out to Pérez’s management for additional comments. This story is still unfolding.
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
