Beloved former member of Menudo dead at 48
Adrian Olivares, former member of famous Latin boy band Menudo, has died at the age of 48.
Fellow bandmate Robert Avellanet confirmed his death in an Instagram post sharing photos of their time together in the 1990s.
'I’m still in shock! Strength to his family. Happy transition for his soul. I will always remember his great sense of humor. We will meet there brother. RIP Adrian,' Avellanet said.
Olivares died at 5:30 a.m. on Monday, just one week after he was diagnosed with Crohn's disease which was complicated by ulcerative colitis, according to a GoFundMe set up for his family.
He leaves behind three daughters, Eliana, 18, and 8-year-old twins Lia and Lilly.
Adrian Olivares, former member of famous Latin boy band Menudo, died on Monday at the age of 48 one week after he was diagnosed with Crohn's disease
'If you would please consider donating anything you can, it would be greatly appreciated as the family does not have the means to give Adrian his final farewell and help these girls with all their necessary expenses,' the GoFundMe said.
Olivares, originally from Mexico, joined the Puerto Rican boy band when he was 13 years old in 1990, one year after Ricky Martin left, according to Billboard.
He performed with the group until he was 16 and left in 1993.
He is now the third member of the boy band to pass away following Rey Reyes and Anthony Galindo Ibarra.
Reyes passed away at 51 years of age in May 2021 reportedly from a 'massive heart attack.'
Reyes was born in New York City but raised in Levittown, a neighborhood in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.
Olivares, originally from Mexico, joined the Puerto Rican boy band when he was 13 years old in 1990, one year after Ricky Martin left
He leaves behind three daughters, Eliana, 18, and 8-year-old twins Lia and Lilly
He joined Menudo in 1983 at 13 years of age replacing Xavier Serbia in the band just as their popularity started to explode.
Reyes was extremely popular among the group's wide fan base, singing lead vocals on Si Tu No Estas, Chicle De Amor and Zumbador on their 1983 album A Todo Rock.
Ibarra, who was known as as 'El Papi Joe,' died after a suicide attempt in October 2020.
He joined Menudo in 1995 and stayed until it ended. Ibarra had also performed in the bands MDO and Kumbia Kings.
