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After spending several hours trapped beneath the rubble, Dominican merengue singer Rubby Pérez — who rose to international fame as a lead vocalist in Wilfrido Vargas' iconic orchestra — died following the collapse of the Jet Set nightclub roof in Santo Domingo. The beloved artist had been the headliner for the evening's performance at the prestigious venue.
The news was confirmed to Dominican media by his manager, Enriquito Paulino, as local outlets closely followed the developing tragedy. While Pérez's family has not released an official statement, his daughter, Zulinka Pérez, told reporters that her father was located under the rubble because of his voice. "He started singing so they would find him," she said.
Rescue efforts by civil defense agents lasted for hours, but Pérez remained pinned from the waist down by debris. Conflicting reports suggest he may have died either while still trapped or en route to the hospital.
El Listín Diario , the Dominican Republic's most recognized newspaper, had reported that Pérez had been transferred by ambulance to the Plaza de la Salud General Hospital. However, the story disappeared from the publication's website shortly afterward.
Who was Rubby Pérez?
Pérez was in the middle of his show at the Jet Set nightclub when the venue's ceiling began to fall on the heads of those in attendance.
@tbs979 Último Video de Rubby Perez en Discoteca Jet Set #rubbyperez #rubyperez #jetset #discotecajetset #merenguerorubbyperz #republicadominicana
♬ sonido original - Onelio
Roberto Antonio Pérez Herrera, known professionally as Rubby Pérez, was born on March 8, 1956, in Bajos de Haina, Dominican Republic. Although he initially aspired to be a baseball player, a car accident that permanently injured his leg led him to focus on music. He studied at the National Conservatory of Music in Santo Domingo, where he perfected his vocal skills and learned to play instruments such as the piano and guitar.
Pérez began his musical career in 1978 as a member of groups such as Los Hijos del Rey and Los Pitágoras del Ritmo. He also sang with Fernandito Villalona's orchestra. His breakthrough came in 1982 when he joined Wilfrido Vargas' orchestra, where he performed hits such as "El Africano" and "Volveré."
In 1987, he decided to pursue a solo career, releasing popular songs such as "Buscando Tus Besos" and "Dame Veneno." Throughout his career, he received multiple awards, including gold and platinum records in Venezuela... and was honored at the Casandra Awards in the Dominican Republic.
On March 24, he was awarded the Sovereign Lifetime Achievement Award, the most important music award in the Dominican Republic.
The tragedy of the Jet Set
Pérez wasn't the only one who lost his life in the Jet Set nightclub tragedy. The death toll stood at 66 at the time of writing. Other victims include former baseball players Tony Blanco and Osvaldo Dotel, the latter of whom played in the major leagues.
Fashion designer Martín Polanco and Montecristi Governor Nelsy Cruz also died.
