Latin American Music Mourns Argentinian Rock Legend Gustavo Cerati    · Global Voices
J. Tadeo

Gustavo Cerati in Madrid on October 10, 2006. Photo by Camilo Rueda López. Available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Argentinian songwriter Gustavo Cerati died on September 4, 2014, in Argentina. The 55-year-old musician was internationally well known for being a member (alongside Zeta Bosio and Charly Alberti) of the band Soda Stereo, one of the most influential of the Ibero-American music scene.
He later went on to have a successful solo career. His sixth and final album, “Fuerza natural” (Force of Nature), was released in 2009 and won three Latin Grammy awards the following year.
Cerati was under medical observation since May 2010, when he had a stroke in Caracas, Venezuela. The news of his death was released by his family through Facebook:
En el día de la fecha lamentamos compartir con ustedes esta información:
“Comunicamos que hoy, en horas de la mañana, falleció el paciente Gustavo Cerati como consecuencia de un paro respiratorio”.
Dr. Gustavo Barbalace
Director Médico de la Clínica ALCLA”.
Despediremos a Gustavo a partir de las 21hs. en la Legislatura Porteña, Julio Argentino Roca 595, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Les agradecemos el respeto y la consideración con que siempre acompañan a nuestra familia.
Familia Cerati.
On this date we regret to share with you this information:
“This is to let you all know that earlier today, patient Gustavo Cerati passed away as a result of respiratory arrest”.
Gustavo Barbalace, M.D.
Medical Director of ALCLA Clinic”.
We will give Gustavo the last and definitive farewell starting at 21hr. at Legislatura Porteña, Julio Argentino Roca 595, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. We thank you all for the respect and consideration you've always had with our family.
The Cerati family.
Among his most emblematic songs with Soda Stereo were “En la ciudad de la furia” (In the city of fury), “Persiana americana” (American blinds) and “Nada personal” (Nothing personal). During his career as soloist, his main hits included “Puente” (Bridge) and “Cosas imposibles” (Impossible things).
On Twitter, Spanish-speaking fans remembered Cerati and mourned his death using hashtags #HastaSiempreCerati (Forever Cerati), #MeVerásVolver (“You'll see me return”, the name of Soda Stereo's reunion tour in 2007) and #GraciasTotales (Thank you completely) remembering the final words the rocker said on the recorded version of his “De Música Ligera” (Of light music) for the album “El Último Concierto” (The last concert), recorded in 1997 at Antonio Vespucio Liberti Stadium:
#HastaSiempreCerati “Vamos despacio para encontrarnos el tiempo es arena en mis manos” Gracias Totales!!!
— Lunita Roja (@LunitaRoja78) septiembre 4, 2014
#ForeverCerati. “Let's go slowly to find ourselves, time is sand in my hands.” Thank you completely!!!
Hay canciones que jamás tendrán fecha de caducidad… #HastaSiempreCerati
— Manuel Cataño (@Manuel_c9) septiembre 4, 2014
Some songs will never have an expiration date. #ForeverCerati.
Cuánto amor nos da la música. Hoy llora todo un continente. #GraciasTotales
— Julia Mengolini (@juliamengo) septiembre 4, 2014
Amazing how much love music can give. Today, a whole continent cries. #ThankYouCompletely
This is a modified version of a post originally published on Global Voices in Spanish.
Laura Schneider contributed with writing this post.