IMPORTANT UPDATE: The following story has been revised to reflect the passing of the beloved artist.
Unverified reports regarding Rubby Pérez‘s health condition circulated widely across the Internet following the tragic roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in the Dominican Republic, where he was performing on the early morning of Tuesday, April 8. The confirmation of the artist’s death came shortly after 5 p.m., leading to an outpouring of grief from fans and colleagues alike.
The 69-year-old renowned Dominican merengue singer was famed for his chart-topping Billboard hits, including “Tu Vas a Volar,” “Enamorado de Ella,” and the collaboration “15,500 Noches” alongside notable artists such as Romeo Santos, Toño Rosario, Fernandito Villalona, and Raman Orlando. According to his daughter, Zulinka Pérez, he was initially discovered alive amid the rubble, offering hope to his family and fans alike.
“He’s inside and we pray that he recovers soon,” Zulinka shared with local reporters on Tuesday morning. “He’s injured, but they found him singing. He started singing so they could hear him. He always told me: ‘If something ever happens to me, cover me so no one takes pictures.’” This heartfelt statement reflects the deep bond between father and daughter and highlights Pérez’s enduring spirit.
Zulinka, who serves as a backup singer for her father and was present during the catastrophic roof collapse, recounted the harrowing experience: “I’m his backup singer — my husband and I both perform alongside him. My husband shielded me, throwing himself on top of me, and he became trapped. He urged me to escape quickly. The musicians managed to get out; however, the bass player is in critical condition and has undergone surgery in the hospital. Tragically, one of the saxophone players lost his life.”
In the aftermath of the incident, numerous local news outlets reported that the artist was “stable and hospitalized at Centro de Medicina Avanzada (CEDIMAT)” in Santo Domingo. A statement from the hospital was released on social media, yet it did not confirm whether Pérez was among the patients admitted. “As of this afternoon, we have received six patients at our facilities. They have been identified by their families and are in stable condition after being treated by our dedicated healthcare professionals,” the hospital stated.
As speculation mounted regarding the artist’s condition, his brother issued a statement to local news on Tuesday afternoon, refuting claims that he had been found and transported to a hospital. “At this moment, he has not been rescued from the rubble,” a family member clarified. “He has not been sent to any hospital. Given that it has been over 14 hours since the event occurred, only God’s grace can truly perform a miracle. Rubby remains in the rubble, and we have not yet been able to rescue him. We are holding onto hope that he is alive. We are sharing this news as a family, and I want it to be accurate.”
The devastating roof collapse resulted in the loss of over 60 lives and left more than 160 individuals injured, according to multiple reports. The cause of this tragic incident has yet to be determined, prompting investigations and calls for accountability.
Billboard has reached out to Pérez’s management team for additional comments regarding this evolving story. Please stay tuned for further updates as this situation develops.
