Pastor De Los Santos, cumbia icon, dies at 66

Roberto Oscar Cabral, the renowned singer known artistically as Pastor De Los Santos, has died at the age of 66. A central figure in the Santa Fe cumbia and tropical music scene, Cabral passed away in Paraná after battling a terminal oncological disease with metastasis.

Born in the La Gran China neighborhood of Santa Fe, Cabral’s musical career spanned over five decades. He began his professional journey at age 16 with Tropical Maracaibo and later participated in groups such as Los del Palmar and Grupo Trinidad. He achieved significant recognition in 1986 after joining Los Tekilas, which is when he adopted the stage name Pastor De Los Santos.

Throughout his career, Cabral released approximately 73 recordings, transitioning through various formats from vinyl and cassettes to digital platforms. His final musical work, ‘Trampa y Fuego’, was released in 2025.