One of the most emblematic voices of salsa It went out this Sunday, May 17, 2026. Puerto Rican singer Samuel Marrero González, better known as Sammy Marrero, vocalist of the salsa orchestra La Selecta, died at the age of 84.
The news was confirmed by his daughter Jennisa Marrero Morales, through a publication on social networks.
“With deep pain, as a family, we want to report the death of our beloved Sammy Marrero today, at the age of 84. Papi was much more than a great singer and a voice loved by the public; He was an exceptional human being, a loving father, grandfather, family member and unforgettable friend.. His passion for music and the affection that he always received from his people were a fundamental part of his life,” he posted on his Facebook account.
So far no details have been given about the causes of his death; However, the Puerto Rican newspaper The New Day He highlighted that Sammy Marrero “in recent months he was in poor health”without mentioning what condition he suffered from.
“We sincerely appreciate all the love, support and prayers we have received during this very difficult time. His legacy will live forever in his music, in his history and in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing and admiring him. Rest in peace, daddy,” his daughter added in the publication.
Likewise, the National Foundation for Popular Culture reacted to the artist’s death and described it as “a simple man, from a humble family, with a sense of responsibility and impeccable loyalty”.
In addition, Juan Carlos García, mayor of Coamo, Marrero’s hometown, also expressed his feelings and assured that “Today Coamo loses one of its most distinguished sons and Puerto Rico says goodbye to one of the most emblematic voices of our tropical music“, he lamented, and described the artist as “one of the most emblematic voices of the tropical music Puerto Rican.”
“I am Sammy Marrero”
The renowned singer, Sammy Marrero, was born on February 16, 1942, in the El Cerro neighborhood, in Coamo, Puerto Rico. When he was barely two and a half years old, he moved with his family to the Pájaros Puertorriqueños neighborhood, in the municipality of Bayamón, in the north of the country, where they settled.
He grew up listening to typical Puerto Rican music and, even as a child, won first place in an amateur program at the Carmen Theater in Bayamón.. Then he participated in the radio program The time of the wheelalong with Jesús Sánchez Erazo and the Trío Cialeño, which marked the early beginning of his musical career.
He belonged to the Trio Los Tempest, the Conjunto Los Many of Jesús “Chu” Fontánez and the group of Andrés, Aníbal and Coco. He was a singer in the musical group of pianist Fernando Ojeda.
In 1971 he joined the La Selecta orchestra and, for more than four decades, he was the main and representative voice of the group. directed by the late Raphy Leavitt, considered one of the most influential in Puerto Rican salsa.
After the unexpected death of Raphy Leavitt, in 2015, former La Selecta musicians Armando Haddock and Edgard Nevárez They organized a new orchestra so that Marrero could continue delighting his fans with his voice, now as a soloist.
Although he was the interpreter of most of La Selecta’s songs and hits, such as “Jíbaro soy”, “El Buen Pastor”, “Payaso”, “La crina blanca”, “Siempre cheerful”, “Soldado”, “Voces del África”, “A lashadow del flamboyán” and “Café colao”, Due to a legal dispute he could not sing them in Puerto Rico or in the United States.
However, in just six months, his fans raised the US$50,000 that had been agreed upon. between the plaintiff, Sammy Marrero and his musicians.
In 2020, his salsa colleagues joined in performing the composition “Yo soy Sammy Marrero”, by Richie Viera, as a tribute to the artist.