MEXICO CITY — Mexican ballad singer Julián Figueroa has died at the age of 27, his mother confirmed Monday.
Figueroa was the son of actress Maribel Guardia and singer Joan Sebastian, who died in 2015. Guardia wrote on Instagram that Figueroa died of a heart ailment last weekend.
“They found him unconscious in his room last night,” she wrote. “When the ambulance arrived and the police found him dead, there was no sign of violence. The medical report says he died of an acute heart attack.”
“I beg your understanding for the deep pain we are going through,” Guardia added, “I would like to talk to all the people who are trying to communicate, but I really don’t have the strength to do it yet.”
Funeral plans have not been announced. However, Guardia wrote his “funeral honors will be held in private, next to the closest people who loved him the most.”
Days before his death, Julián Figueroa honored his father Joan Sebastian
On what would have been Sebastian’s 72nd birthday April 8, Figuera paid tribute to his father in an emotional post.
“How slowly eight years have passed, since the day you died time tastes more bitter,” he wrote. “People proclaim that time will fix everything, but it’s a vile lie, it hurts more every day …I love you dad and if your dead hurts me it is because your life was so valuable to me,” he concluded.
Like his father, Figueroa sang northern-inspired ballads backed by a traditional band. His hits included songs like “Yo sería”, “Ay amor” and “Volaré.”
Joan Sebastian, one of Mexico’s great ballad singers, died in 2015 at age 64. He was best known for sentimental love songs like “Tatuajes” and “Secreto de Amor,” sometimes set to simple guitar arrangements and sometimes sung on horseback.
Born Jose Manuel Figueroa, Sebastian had eight children with five women.
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Figueroa’s wife, singer and actress Imelda Garza Tuñón, wrote in an Instagram post: “I love you forever.”
“You’re in a better place next to your father and you leave me with my heart broken in a million pieces but with many happy memories and laughs, fly high love.”
His sisters Joana Marcelia Figueroa-Espín and Juliana Joeri Figueroa-Alonso also paid tribute to their brother. “The most beautiful thing about love Julián is carried in our hearts,” Juliana wrote, alongside a collage of photos of the two. “Dad is waiting for you.”
His sister Joana wrote that the two were “united by much more than blood and last name … We had the gift of our souls speaking the same language, that’s why we know that our souls had chosen each other in another life. I have faith that this will not be the last either.”
Alejandro Fernández, son of the late Mexican singer Vicente Fernandez, paid his condolences to Maribel Guardia in the comments section of her post. He sent her a “huge hug,” and said in Spanish, “I can’t imagine what you’re going through, I love you very much and we’re here with you.”
Telenovela actor Ernesto Laguardia wrote to Guardia that “there are no words, I can’t find them, what a painful situation. Sending you a big hug full love of love from my family and me,” he added. “You always embraced (Julián) by your side and now he’ll be embraced by his father (Joan). I am so sorry, my condolences to all your family.”
Pop singer Belinda wrote to Figueroa, “I can’t imagine what you must be feeling right now. I remember when we were on (the telenovela ‘Adventuras En El Tiempo’) and Juliancito would come to when we were filming on set, he was your greatest adoration and your greatest treasure!!! … You’re a wonderful woman… I am so sorry from the bottom of my heart…”
Figueroa is survived by his mother, his wife, singer and actress Imelda Tuñón, and their son.
“I beg everyone respect for our privacy and the painful moment we spent,” Guardia wrote.
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Contributing: Pamela Avila, USA TODAY
