Photo Credit: Rubby Pérez / Instagram
Merengue singer Rubby Pérez has died after sustaining injuries during the Jet Set Club roof collapse in the Dominican Republic. He was performing on stage at the time.
The Jet Set Club was a converted cinema and hosted large dance events, though authorities have not yet identified what caused the structural failure. At least 124 people died in the collapse of the roof, with 150 others reportedly injured. The death toll is expected to rise as authorities and first responders continue sorting through the rubble.
Rubby Pérez was born Roberto Antonio Pérez Herrera in Haina, Dominican Republic. His career as a merengue singer spanned over five decades, with Pérez rising to prominence as the lead vocalist of the Wilfrido Vargas Orchestra in the early 1980s before launching his successful solo career in 1987. That earned him the title of ‘La voz mas alta del merengue’ or “The Highest Voice of Merengue.”
Rubby Pérez initially wanted to be a baseball player, but a leg fracture from a car accident at age 15 instead led him to pursue a career in music. He began playing guitar, joined his church choir, and later studied at the National Conservatory of Music in Santo Domingo. His breakthrough with Vargas’s orchestra led to the recording of hits like El Africano and Voló Voló, which brought merengue to international audiences.
Known for his energetic performances and powerful vocals, Pérez released albums through 2022—including his final work Hecho Está. His music blends traditional merengue with contemporary influences, earning him multiple awards and acclaim as a genre ambassador. His last performance before taking the stage at Jet Set Club was in Washington Heights, New York on April 4 at La Nueva Espana.
Those in attendance described the show as electric, with attendees celebrating the singer and toasting his music. Eyewitnesses report that Pérez encouraged those in attendance to join him at his upcoming set at the Jet Set Club in Santo Domingo. Pérez was performing on stage when the roof of the building collapsed, killing him and more than 124 other people. His team confirmed the death on social media and released a statement mourning the loss of his musical legacy. He is survived by seven children and will be remembered as a cutural icon for his contributions to merengue.
His funeral service will be held tomorrow, April 10 at 10 am to 4 pm at the Eduardo Brito National Theater. Afterward, his burial will follow at 5 pm in the Puerta del Cielo Cemetery Park.
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