Chilean singer Zalo Reyes dies at 69

• Show business is in mourning again.
• Singer Zalo Reyes, also known as «Gorríon de Conchalí», has died at age 69.
• «My sincere condolences to the whole family,» said Don Francisco.

The sad death of singer Zalo Reyes, also known as «Gorríon de Conchalí», at 69 years of age, has been announced. Immediately, several well-known personalities, including Don Francisco expressed their condolences on social media.

His son shared the sad news on the official Instagram account of the singer of songs such as Motivo y Razón, Mi Prisionera, Una lágrima en la garganta and Un ramito de violetas, among others. He was diagnosed with diabetes in 2008 and had to have part of one of his feet amputated. Rest in peace.

People say a last goodbye to Zalo Reyes, ‘El Gorrión’

“Good afternoon everyone, on behalf of my dad I tell you that a moment ago he just passed away!!! Accompanied by us and all your prayers with so much good energy!!! He died in his sleep and without suffering… We can only thank him for so much love and admiration during these 40 years of success… ,” said Zalo Reyes’ son.

According to he Cooperativa de Chile portal, Boris Leonardo González Reyes was hospitalized on August 12 due to complications from diabetes and, after coming out of a medically induced coma, he died in his sleep. On November 3, he would have turned70.

Don Francisco mourns the death of Zalo Reyes

It did not take long for several celebrities to react to the death of Zalo Reyes, such as the Chilean host Mario Kreutberger, better known as Don Francisco, who said: «My sincere condolences to the entire family of the great Zalo… We had the privilege of sharing with him in each of our programs and enjoy his talent and permanent joy… We also learned about his great heart on many occasions in which he participated in our @teleton_chile…”

For his part, singer Luis Jara said that it was a very big loss and that Zalo left a great legacy: “He is by far one of the greatest exponents of popular music of all time. He has unequaled charisma. He was more than a singer, he was a musician who sang and had an ability to improvise on stage like no one else.”

Los Ángeles Negros express their condolences

More than a year after the death of its founder and guitarist, Mario Gutiérrez, the Chilean group Los Ángeles Negros once again dresses in mourning for the death of singer Zalo Reyes: «It is with sadness that we receive the news of Zalo’s death. A unique voice of our music and an irreplaceable icon of Chilean culture,” they said on social media.

«From here, our deepest condolences to his family and a closed and deep applause for an older artist who, thanks to his legacy, will always be among us.» Hours later, it was reported that the singer’s body would be veiled at the Conchalí Municipal Gymnasium, a commune belonging to the northern sector of Santiago de Chile.

Zalo Reyes did not know he had cancer

At the beginning of this month, Zalo Reyes suffered a severe diabetic decompensation that led him to be admitted to the Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos del Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile. Days before, he suffered a similar decompensation. He was discharged on August 13, but according to his son, the singer suffered from cancer, which they were not aware of.

He was a controversial character at all times. He likewise complained about the few opportunities that Chilean singers had to appear on television as he ranted against several journalists, of whom he said that they were only interested in asking about drugs. In his later years, he offered few interviews.