Brazilian sertanejo singer, composer and television host Juliano Cezar is dead after suffering a heart attack on stage. The 58-year-old performer was holding a concert in northern Paraná, Brazil on Tuesday, December 31 when he began to exhibit visible signs of distress. Audience footage from the day eventually depicts the star collapsing during his set.
According to his press team, the “Cowboy Vagabundo” singer was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors attempted to resuscitate him, but unfortunately, their efforts could not save him. “When he got here, everything was done, but he was already in an advanced state of cardiac arrest,” said the doctor in charge.
Cezar’s producer, Mauro Vasconcelos, believes the singer’s death was a result of overexertion. Vasconcelos purports that the beloved artist, whom he’s known for 25 years, was performing his third show in a row to a full house. Cezar also reportedly used energy drinks to carry on, despite having an existing history of hypertension and heart disease.
Juliano Cezar will be remembered by songs like “Faz Ela Feliz,” and “Bem Aos Olhos Da Lua,” two of his most beloved tracks released over the course of a more than 30-year career. Cezar got his start in 1985 after independently recording hits by artists like Chitãozinho and Xororó, Teixeirinha and Millionaire and José Rico, eventually going on to release 12 albums comprised of his own compositions.
By 1991, he received a Sharp Award. Cezar was also nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2004 for Best Romantic Album in Portuguese. In addition to his music career, he was known for his work as a television host on successful Brazilian programs such as REDEVIDA’s Arena Brasil.
A wake for the artist was held on January 1, 2020, in his hometown of Passos, Minas Gerais. It is reported that his burial will take place at the Municipal Cemetery of Passos.