El Taiger, influential Cuban artist, dies after being shot

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El Taiger, influential Cuban artist, dies after being shot

José Manuel Carbajal Zaldívar, better known as El Taiger, has died at the age of 37 after being shot in the head a week ago, during a violent crime. After seven days of uncertainty for friends, family and the Cuban people, his team has announced the singer’s death on social networks at the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.

“The Taiger was declared dead and has now joined his beloved mother in heaven,” those closest to him have shared with his millions of followers. They also stated that, although “a team of doctors worked tirelessly to provide José with the highest level of care,” it was not possible to keep him alive.

Zaldívar was the greatest exponent of the cast, a musical genre also known as morpha that emerged in Cuba in the 2020s. It is characterized by mixing elements of salsa or rumba, and Cuban music in general, with reggaeton.

This has more than 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify and its most listened to song, ‘La Historia’, was also a great success in Spain. It is the sixth most listened to song in Spain in 2021, according to Promusicae data, and it remained on the list for 37 weeks, accumulating 5 platinum records.

It is hard news for the Cuban community, which was responsible for holding vigils in their cities and bringing candles and photographs to the hospital where the artist was. Singers like J Balvin, Enrique Iglesias and Kiko Rivera have also sent their support. The latter has dedicated an emotional message to him on his Instagram profile: «Rest in peace, friend. News that breaks my soul,” he published.

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Simon Müller

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