Puerto Rican salsa singer Tito Rojas, known as “El Gallo Salsero” and famous for his velvety tenor and hits like “Señora de madrugada” and “Por mujeres como tú,” died of a suspected heart attack Saturday (Dec. 26) in his hometown of Humacao, Puerto Rico. He was 65 years old.
“Our friend and colleague Tito Rojas has moved to ‘another neighborhood,'” salsa icon Ruben Blades wrote on Instagram. “Blessed with a dynamic personality and sense of humor, he obtained deserved popularity for his ability to connect with the salsa audience, displaying the sharpness, humor and capacity Puerto Ricans have to confront life and overcome hardships.”
According to reports on Puerto Rican daily Un Nuevo Día, Rojas, a gregarious and well-loved figure, had spent the evening with friends and, on the way home, began to feel ill and stopped at a cousin’s house to get help. He collapsed and medics were unable to revive him, according to Teddy Morales, the director of Humacao’s Criminal Investigation Division.