Ruben Rada, who took Uruguayan candombe to international audiences, dies at 83

Ruben Rada, the Uruguayan singer, composer and percussionist who championed Afro-Uruguayan candombe music internationally, has passed away at the age of 83 in Montevideo. His family confirmed the news on his social media accounts, revealing that he had battled pneumonia and its complications for a month before his death on Wednesday at 3:30pm.

Born on July 16, 1943, in Montevideo, Rada spent over six decades devoted to candombe, a tradition UNESCO recognized in 2009 as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Rada's unique approach involved blending candombe with rock, jazz, funk, and murga, thereby expanding its reach beyond the River Plate region. He was an integral part of three influential bands: El Kinto with Eduardo Mateo, where he championed the candombe beat that incorporated electric instruments, congas, and drum kit; Tótem, a short-lived yet influential band with which he recorded two albums and penned hits such as "Dedos," "Biafra," and "Negro"; and Opa, which further transitioned candombe into jazz-rock.

Rada embarked on a successful solo career in 1969 with the album "Las Manzanas," followed by other notable works including "Mi país," "Cha-cha muchacha," "Blumana," and "Muriendo de plena." From the late 1990s, he also crafted a children's musical repertoire featuring the character Rubenrada. Notable accolades include the Latin Grammy Award for Musical Excellence in 2011 recognizing his career contributions, and the Delmira Agustini Medal in 2014, bestowed by Uruguay's Ministry of Education and Culture.

Despite his ongoing active status, Rada fell ill, working on an album with Argentine band Los Auténticos Decadentes, preparing concerts with Brazil's Chico César in Buenos Aires, and planning a tribute to Tótem. He had even premiered a series of encounters with other artists titled "¿Quién va a cantar?" on his birthday. His last performance plans included two concerts with the Sodre National Auditorium, where he intended to reunite with bassist Daniel "Lobito" Lagarde.