(CNN Spanish) –– Darío Gómez, Colombia’s “King of Wickedness,” died this Tuesday in Medellín, the Las Américas Clinic reported. In a statement sent to CNN, he indicated that the popular music singer came to the emergency room that day in a “state of unconsciousness” after suffering a sudden collapse at his home. Gómez arrived without vital signs and was transferred to a resuscitation room, where cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, the facility added. He was pronounced dead at 7:31 p.m. local time, according to the statement.
President Ivan Duque expressed his condolences on Twitter: “We deeply regret the death of artist and composer Darío Gómez, the ‘King of Wickedness’; one of the greatest exponents of Colombian pop music. We accompany his family and friends in solidarity and send them our fraternal hugs,” he wrote.
Darío Gómez was one of the most famous artists in Colombia. For decades he sang to heartbreak and earned the title “King of Malice”. His biggest hits include “Nobody is forever”, a song about death, “Survival”, “Between quotes”, “Daniela” and more recently “Me laugh at you” and “Copita de liquor”.
The Colombian Ministry of Culture lamented Gómez’s death, noting that his interpretations and lyrics “have accompanied Colombians from generation to generation”.
Reactions to the death of Darío Gómez
Several artists took to social networks to express their pain at the death of the “King of Malice”.
One of them was Juanes, who wrote: “Sad about the departure of Dario Gómez, so many parties listening to his music and singing so many of his songs. My deepest condolences to his entire family.”
Sadness about the departure of Dario Gómez, so many parties listening to his music and so many singing his songs. My deepest condolences to his entire family.
– Juanes (@juanes) July 27, 2022
Jhonny Rivera, a singer of the same genre as Gómez, shared a video of the pair performing at a concert with the message: “It is with deep sadness that I receive the news of the passing of our King of Spite #DarioGomez, a benchmark in popular music, a great friend and Source of inspiration in my career, peace in his grave, his legacy will live forever”.
El Charrito Negro, pop music singer-songwriter, shared a photo with Darío Gómez on his Instagram account, accompanied by the message: “You were and will continue to be 👑 THE KING OF CONTEMPT 👑 Thank you teacher for being our inspiration and for leading that hat trick for so many years. Rest in Peace Master 🙏🏼, your legacy will always remain in our hearts.”
Singer-songwriter Arelys Henao wrote on her Twitter account: “So many moments running through my mind today that his departure seems incredible @elreydeldespecho thank you for so much my teacher.”
For his part, singer Lucas Arnau tweeted: “May Darío Gómez, the king of defiance, rest in peace, thanks for his music maestro, he inspired us and will inspire us forever!”
Rest in peace Darío Gómez, the king of defiance, thank you for your music master, you inspire us and will inspire us forever! 🙏🏻🎙🖤
— Lucas Arnau (@LucasArnau) July 27, 2022