The music world is mourning the tragic loss of Dominican merengue icon Rubby Pérez, who perished when the roof of Santo Domingo’s Jet Set nightclub collapsed during his performance.
The 69-year-old singer, best known for hits like “Volveré,” was confirmed dead by his manager Enrique Paulino, as heartfelt tributes began pouring in across social media, with his Instagram profile picture turned black in solemn remembrance.
The catastrophic structural failure has claimed at least 79 lives, with 155 injured concertgoers rushed to hospitals across the National District. Among the victims were several prominent figures from sports and politics, including former MLB player Tony Blanco – father of Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Tony Blanco Jr. – and retired Major League pitcher Octavio Dotel.
The tragedy also claimed the life of Montecristi province governor Nelsy Cruz, sister of baseball star Nelson Cruz, along with an unnamed saxophonist who had been performing alongside Pérez that evening.
Dominican authorities confirmed search and rescue operations continue around the clock, with multiple agencies coordinating efforts to assist victims and their families. Pérez, who released 13 albums during his illustrious decades-long career, leaves behind an indelible legacy as one of merengue’s most celebrated voices.
The disaster at the popular entertainment venue now stands as one of the Caribbean’s deadliest nightclub incidents in recent memory, with emergency workers still carefully combing through the wreckage as the full scope of the tragedy continues to emerge.
