Rafael Santa Cruz Dies: Peruvian Cajón Player Dead At 53 From Heart Attack

Rafael Santa Cruz, best known for playing the cajón, has died at the age of 53. The Peruvian musician and actor had a heart attack at home and passed away, according to reports confirmed by his brother Octavio Santa Cruz. Owan Lay, director of Director of Public Policies for the Afro-Peruvian Population in the Ministry of Culture, told RPP, "Today we have lost one of the promoters of internationalization for the Afro-Peruvian cajon. It’s a significant loss for me, because Rafael was a good friend of mine […] I saw him just a month ago, and he had no outward signs of illness. I’m in shock."

Santa Cruz was the director and creator of the annual International Festival of the Peruvian Cajón that is held annually in Lima, Perú. The musician also took part as an actor in theatre and television. The cajón, or box, is an instrument created from wooden boxes. The idea came about during the period of slavery in the coast of the South American country. Owners of slaves banned drums to keep order, but they were much smarted and created this instrument that could easily be disguised as a stool of sorts to avoid it being taken away. Take a look at the clip down below to see Rafael Santa Cruz in fully glory!