In the midst of the devastating tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub, the daughter of Dominican merenguero Rubby Perez, Zulinka Perez, has shared a moving testimony about how her father sacrificed his integrity to save her.
Zulinka, who is a backup singer in her father’s band along with her husband, recounted how Rubby Pérez physically protected her when the venue’s roof collapsed during their April 8 performance.
Rubby Perez a hero who saved his daughter
In an interview with Univision, before the death of her father was confirmed, Zulinka Perez told how she, her father and her husband lived through the tragedy that has saddened the entire Dominican Republic.
“He covered me and threw himself on top of me. He broke a leg, and told me ‘come out quickly, mommy, in case he collapses, the child won’t be left alone with us,'” she revealed visibly affected.
“They found him singing under the rubble.”
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According to the testimony of Zulinka Perez, during the presentation they felt unusual vibrations, initially believing that it was a fight among the audience.
“There was something strange going on, we thought they were fighting, I told my dad and my husband ‘back off, they’re kind of fighting over there’, but no (it was a fight), it was something flash,” said Zulinka.
But in a matter of seconds, everything fell apart and the merenguero’s daughter tells how it was a true miracle that she was telling the story and not her father.
“I was going to sing a song and I told him ‘daddy help me because I can’t do much strength’, I have surgery, and he told me ‘ok mommy stay on your microphone and I’ll stay on mine’, (then) I moved to his microphone, otherwise I don’t think I would be here,” Zulinka said.
“My husband and I are his back-up singers, that’s why he covered me, he threw himself on top of me, he broke his leg and told me ‘come out quickly mommy, in case the child collapses, don’t leave us alone,” the woman added.
Although injured, Rubby Perez was found alive, singing under the rubble for rescuers to locate him.
“He started singing so that they would listen to him…”, his daughter said, highlighting his mettle and strength in critical moments.
Unfortunately, although he was found with vital signs, the legendary merengue singer passed away due to the seriousness of his injuries. He was 69 years old.
Other victims and injured in the tragedy
The tragedy, which occurred in the early hours of April 8, left at least 66 dead and more than 160 injured, according to the Dominican Republic’s Emergency Operations Center (COE).
Among the deceased is also a saxophonist in Perez’s band, while the bass player underwent surgery and remains in serious condition, according to Zulinka’s own testimony.
In addition, the deaths of former baseball players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco were confirmed.
The pain of a nation and the respect of its daughter
Buzzy
Rubby Pérez, known as “La Voz Más Alta del Merengue”, was honored days before his death at the Premios Soberano 2025, where he received a standing ovation for his career.
His career began in Wilfrido Vargas’ orchestra and he shined with hits such as “Volveré”, “Buscando tus besos” and “Sobreviviré”.
Before being removed from the site, his daughter fulfilled a promise he had made to her in life:
“Daddy always told me, ‘Mommy, if something happens to me someday, cover me up so no one takes pictures of me.’ My cousin brought a blanket and we covered him up.”
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact causes of the collapse at the Jet Set discotheque, one of Santo Domingo’s most emblematic nightclubs.
President Luis Abinader declared national mourning for three days and promised justice.
He started singing so that they could hear him (under the rubble)
Zulinka Pérez
