Puerto Rican salsa singer Andy Montañez spent his 70th birthday Monday recovering in a Baranquilla clinic after sustaining minor injuries in a car accident in northern Colombia last week.
“For me it is a pleasure to be celebrating my 70th birthday here, although this is not the most ideal way to spend it, it is the way it happened,” said Montañez.
“Thank God I am recovering quickly. I have felt the steady love of Colombians,” he added.
It has not yet been determined when Montañez will be released from the clinic.
The singer said he’s anxiously awaiting a trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico where he will celebrate the 50th anniversary of his singing career with some of Latin music’s biggest names.
“On May 26 I will be celebrating 50 years of my artistic career in the Coliseum of Puerto Rico along with Johnny Ventura, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Daddy Yankee and Voltio,” he said.
The singer was travelling from the northern city of Barranquilla to Valledupar last Monday when the front tire of his vehicle exploded. He underwent surgery for a wound on his right foot and is still in recovery.
The Latin Grammy winner is hailed as “The Godfather of Salsa” and has released over 50 albums during his career.