A somber mood descended upon Colombians and salsa music lovers everywhere after news emerged Thursday that the Puerto Rican salsa musician Mariano Civico has died.
According to Colombia’s W Radio, the singer died in Madrid, Spain Thursday morning after suffering from a severe flu.
“He had a very [serious] flu. He traveled from Italy to Madrid feeling very badly. He told me he was going to the hospital because he was feeling so bad…his heart could not take it anymore,” said the singer’s wife, a Cali native. The popular Civico lived in Cali, Colombia’s salsa capital and third largest city, for 11 years.
Perhaps most famous for his contribution to the group Orquesta Caribe, the salsa musician attained some of his greatest successes during the new wave of Salsa Caleña in the mid 1990’s. Civico is also remembered as being the main organizer of the “Latin Swing” event in Cali, where Marc Anthony, Diomedes Diaz, Daddy Yankee and Alejandro Fernandez have all performed.
The singer is well-known for tracks like “Esa Mujer”; “Amiga de la noche”; “Tu Precio”; “Paisajes”; “Solo Deseos”; “Sabanas Blancas” and “Te voy hacer feliz.”
He had three children, all born in Colombia.
Civico’s body will be brought to Cali in the upcoming days, said the singer’s management.
