Remembering Rubby Pérez: Manager Recalls Night of Jet Set Tragedy

The words still echo‍ in Fernando Soto’s mind, the manager of the late merengue star Rubby Pérez. “He returns that the Jet Set fell and we did not find Rubby,” Deivis Alberti, Pérez’s road manager, told Soto over the phone, struggling to convey the gravity of the situation. Soto immediately headed home, near the Los Ríos sector.

Restless and deeply worried, soto returned to the disco, unaware of the scale of the disaster. He called Dr. Macaías Pérez, Rubby’s brother and an orthopedic traumatologist, ⁣to inform him and prepare for the merenguero’s potential transfer to a ‍medical facility.

The tragic collapse of the Jet Set disco’s ceiling on tuesday,⁢ April 8, resulted in 235 fatalities, ⁢according to reports. rubby Pérez, who had been entertaining the crowd at the venue’s traditional Monday night party, was among the victims.

A Typical Monday Until Tragedy Struck

Soto remembers‍ that Monday, April 7, as starting like any other. ⁣From early morning, he received calls from friends and family requesting access ⁣to the party, a common occurrence.

Pérez himself called Soto that afternoon, inquiring if he would be attending. Soto confirmed he would be there ⁤but explained he would leave after Pérez took the stage.

Typically, the road manager accompanied Pérez to all events. Soto would arrive early to ensure everything was in order. Onc the party was underway and⁤ running smoothly, he would return home.

A Night Like Any Other,Initially

That night seemed no different,except ⁣for a minor security issue at the disco that ⁢prompted Soto to leave earlier than planned.

“When I arrive, normally, I arrive‍ first, to verify that the musicians are there, all the staff is ready and⁤ available. I see that the hours progress⁤ and Rubby had not arrived, but when calling⁤ it I was already arriving at the parking lot, I receive it. We talked the normal, as its day was, always joked with him because he dressed very elegant …,” Soto recalled.

Fans recognized Pérez’s vehicle and approached for photographs. Soto remembers Pérez always accommodating everyone,‍ never refusing a greeting or a photo,⁢ both before and after shows. ⁣he described ⁤Pérez as a down-to-earth artist who frequented supermarkets and preferred not to have a driver or security,⁣ except for logistical reasons at events. Despite his fame in Latin America and Europe, Pérez treated his U.S. audience as if he were still in his home country.

Soto’s last interaction with Pérez was moments before he went on stage, offering words of encouragement. “Break!”⁢ Soto said, patting Pérez on the⁢ back.

An Extraordinary Artist

Soto knew he was working with an exceptional talent.

“Rubby was something impressive. I noticed, sometimes, that in the shows, almost ⁣people did not dance, and Rubby invited people to dance, and I said you do not understand that those people who come to see him are surprised so much of thier vocal quality and forget to dance,” he recalled.

A sense of Unease

Soto confessed that he felt⁣ uneasy upon entering the disco that⁢ night.”I‍ enter the place, I confess ⁤that I did not feel agreeable. I entered and felt like when ⁢you do ⁣not feel comfortable. Many people say they were negative energies, others say it was a premonition, I don’t know, I can’t say it, what I can say is that I didn’t feel comfortable,” he said.

Alberti,⁢ the road manager, also noticed Pérez seemed anxious and was sweating profusely, consuming his usual two-hour water supply in just 40 minutes.

Soto typically positioned himself near ⁢the sound console,alongside the sound engineer,while the‍ road manager and security stayed close to the stage.

During Pérez’s performance of “foreign dog,” a segment involved the audience chanting part of the song while the band paused. Soto attempted to film this moment for social media⁣ but was prevented from accessing the stage by the disco’s security, despite explaining his role as Pérez’s manager. Frustrated, Soto left for his vehicle.

Soto‍ intended to wait for the show ⁣but remembering his promise to Pérez that he‍ would‍ leave once everything was running smoothly, he went home.

The First Call and the Realization of Tragedy

Soto received ⁣the first call from security, urging him‍ to return quickly,‍ reporting that something had fallen on Pérez.”When he tells me that ⁢I ⁤am believing that they are the lights or something of the stage that has already fallen to Rubby.” The second call,from the road manager,revealed the‍ severity of⁣ the situation. It took Soto approximately seven minutes to drive back from the Botanical Garden to the Jet Set.

“When I arrived at the place there were several ambulances and several patrols; and chaos,”⁤ he recalled.

Upon ‍exiting his vehicle, he encountered Alberti and a security guard, the latter with head and hand injuries. He also ⁤saw Zulinka in a state of hysteria and her husband with fractures.

“And the biggest clash I could see was that they ⁣were taking out the body of the saxophonist and ⁣I heard⁤ the band’s director say that Chican‍ had⁤ died,⁣ so we told the saxophonist Luis Solís. It is then that he⁤ managed to have access and when I saw that,” Soto said,unable to fully describe‍ the scene of the disco’s collapse.

The initial moments were filled with disbelief.”I didn’t want to accept what I was living. I didn’t want to accept it, for me that was not real and we started asking for Rubby.”

The sound engineer, Angel A.Franco, the director of the Manuel Tatis Orchestra, and ‍the sound assistant, Juan Carlos Ubiera, were removing debris in an attempt to rescue Pérez. Soto noticed a beam hanging precariously by only three rods, but they continued their efforts,⁣ which Soto joined.

“The soundist says that he was listening to Rubby asking for help, but I doubt it, it was that there were more people, chaos, impact, shock, that people could be confused. I doubt that Rubby has survived after that impact.”

Asked about ‍the following hours, Soto described them as filled with uncertainty, confusion, doubt, hope, and faith. “They were a number of things that I cannot define you, the doubt came, we lost the faith at one time, then hope returned. Many things happened through my mind, because they said that Rubby had jumped forward when he saw everything falling, ⁣and the safest the explosion made him fall. ”

Disturbing thoughts and fleeting moments of hope consumed Soto’s mind. “I remember that the president’s assistant was there, he spoke with me and told me that they were doing everything possible, but where⁤ Rubby fell, it was very tough to locate, it was the last to locate him.”

False information about Pérez’s condition circulated early in⁢ the morning. Initial reports claimed‍ he‍ was⁣ being treated and had been transferred to a clinic, but this was later denied. Around ⁢5 p.m., a body was found that authorities initially identified as Pérez, but it wasn’t until midnight on Wednesday that the merenguero’s remains were officially located.

The Confirmation ⁣of Loss

Asked about the moment he learned of Pérez’s death, soto said, “I had not lived something like that in my life, my only loved one, who has died of my father, in 2008, he ⁣was sick, I can describe him as he is standing and a giant comes and gives you a strong blow to the chest and leaves you without air, with pain, because I do not know why the heart hurts, why ⁣that feeling that should be handled in the brain ‍is in the heart that affects you, and the⁤ news could not think,‍ I could that will confirm it. ”

In the‍ days following the tragedy, Soto⁣ found solace in God, his family, and his wife’s emotional support.He recounted a touching moment with his 5-year-old‍ son, who, seeing Soto depressed on the terrace, ran to him,⁢ hugged him, and said,⁣ “Daddy, I love you… I love you to the moon.” Soto described this as a balm that relieved him greatly.