Story By: Jonathan Macias, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash

Saxophonist Marcelo Peralta has reportedly succumbed to COVID-19 making him the first famous musician to die of the virus in Spain.

Argentine musician Peralta, who was based in the Spanish capital Madrid since 1996, has died of COVID-19 in a local hospital aged 59, according to local media.

The news was shared by fellow Argentine musician Guillermo Bazzola on social media.

Bazzola said: “I am sorry to tell you that Marcelo Peralta died a short while ago. Marcelo was one of my oldest and closest friends.”

The musician added: “It was very quick and all this is very difficult to cope with. I am devastated, but I feel obliged to tell you the news and ask everybody to stay at home and take extreme precautions during this terrible health emergency in Madrid and other parts of the world.”

Peralta was born in Buenos Aires on 5th March 1961 and he lived in Madrid since 1996 where he developed a career working with several recording companies and TV stations.

He was also the saxophonist for the Television Espanola orchestra and reports said he was the first famous musician to die of the virus in Spain.

According to the Spanish Health Ministry, 2,078 people have been infected with COVID-19 in the Spanish capital and 64 have died.

This week, the Healthy Ministry said that 4,209 new cases have been confirmed in Spain and 120 have died nationwide.

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