Marcos Camino, Founder of Los Palmeras, Dies at 76

Marcos Camino, the renowned accordionist and a founding member of the influential cumbia group Los Palmeras, passed away on Tuesday, November 10, at the age of 76. His body was discovered at a property on Alvear Street in the Candioti Norte neighborhood of Santa Fe, Argentina, which served as a recording studio for the band.

Local authorities confirmed the death after police were dispatched to the location. According to reports from provincial officials, investigators are currently treating the case as a suicide following a review of security footage from the premises.

The official social media channels for Los Palmeras released a statement confirming the loss of their longtime leader. The band members expressed their deep sorrow, describing Camino as a fundamental figure in their history whose passion for music would leave a lasting legacy. They also requested that the public and media respect the privacy of the musician's family during this difficult time.

Camino had been a central figure in the Argentine music scene for over five decades. He helped establish Los Palmeras as a staple of the 'cumbia santafesina' genre, achieving widespread fame with hits such as 'El bombón asesino' and 'Soy sabalero,' the latter of which became an anthem for the Colón football club, of which Camino was a dedicated supporter.

In February of this year, Camino had announced his retirement from touring, citing concerns regarding his age and health. He had previously undergone a procedure to receive nine stents and expressed a desire to step back from the stage to focus on his well-being. Following his departure, his son, Marcos Camino Junior, took over the management of the musical project.

The final years of Camino's tenure with the band were marked by professional and personal tension, particularly regarding the status of longtime vocalist Rubén 'Cacho' Deicas. Following a stroke suffered by Deicas in January 2025, a public dispute emerged between the two camps over the singer's recovery and his eventual commercial separation from the group. Camino had maintained that the band had fulfilled its obligations to the singer, though he acknowledged that the conflict had caused significant personal strain.

Born on August 31, 1950, in Santa Fe, Camino began his musical journey under the mentorship of Alberto Fernández, a pioneer of tropical music in the region. He joined the Sexteto Palmeras in 1972, eventually assuming the leadership role that would define the group's sound for the next half-century. His death marks the end of a significant era for the band and the broader landscape of Argentine tropical music.