Panama said goodbye to one of its most beloved musical icons this week, as family, friends, fellow artists and admirers gathered in Panama City to honor Dagoberto “Yin” Carrizo, the singer, songwriter and accordionist widely regarded as a pillar of the country’s típica music tradition. Carrizo died on Monday, September 7, at the age of 87.
What Happened
A funeral mass was held Wednesday at the Santuario Nacional del Corazón de María in Panama City, officiated by Father Manuel Villarreal. The ceremony was filled with the music that defined Carrizo’s life, with performances by musicians including Colaquito Cortez, known as “El Hombre Orquesta,” and Sergio “Dedos de Oro” Cortez, along with a choir led by Electra Castillo, one of Panama’s most prominent figures in symphonic and choral music.
The church was filled to capacity with relatives, friends, colleagues, political figures and fans who came to pay their respects. Among those in attendance were musicians, singers, accordionists, producers and television presenters, including Jorge Escobar Tamayo, Elena Llorach, Álvaro Alvarado, Osvaldo Ayala, Manuel de Jesús Ábrego, Estercita Nieto and Doralis Mela. Culture Minister Maruja Herrera was also present. Several family members, including his nieces and nephews Isabela Carrizo and Dr. Gustavo Carrizo, spoke about his legacy.
One of the most moving moments came through a message from Carrizo himself, distributed to those in attendance and signed by the artist before his death. In it, he asked to be remembered “with the joy of my music and with the love I always carried for my Panama.” The message described his life as a succession of “moments of songs and of affection,” and declared that his legacy remains “in every chord, in every song and in every heart that ever sang with me.” It closed with a phrase that captured how he wished to be remembered: “When you hear my music, I will be there.”
At the end of the ceremony, Carrizo’s daughters spoke on behalf of the family, thanking journalists, media outlets and authorities for the recognition given to their father. “The countless expressions of affection, the prayers, the anecdotes and the messages of encouragement we have received from across the country have been a balm for our pain,” they said, visibly moved. They added that the best way to honor him would be “to live as he lived, with joy in the soul, with humility and nobility,” along with keeping alive the pride of being Panamanian and a commitment to contributing to the country’s culture and future.
Among the mourners was Professor Alicia Aguilar, 82, a lifelong admirer who said she would not have missed the farewell. She recalled loving songs such as “Mi Sufrimiento” and “Julia” since she was 20 years old, and revealed she once had a boyfriend who sang “Lucy” to her.
Background
Yin Carrizo was born in Ocú, in the province of Herrera, where he discovered the accordion as a young man and turned it into his lifelong form of expression. Over the decades, songs such as “Viva Panamá” and “Lucy (¡Ay, Lucy querida!)” became part of the musical memory of generations of Panamanians, cementing his status as one of the great references of música típica, the folk tradition that remains a cornerstone of Panamanian cultural identity.
During the mass, Father Villarreal centered part of his homily on the responsibility that comes with receiving a talent, and how each person chooses to use it. He reminded mourners that “we must be grateful for the talents God gives us,” while stressing the importance of asking what is done with those gifts — a reflection that took on special meaning in the farewell of a musician who devoted much of his life to developing his talent in service of Panamanian music and culture.
What This Means for Panama
Carrizo’s death marks the loss of one of the last living links to the golden era of Panamanian folk music, and the outpouring of affection seen at Wednesday’s ceremony — spanning generations, from fellow legends of the accordion to elderly fans — underscores how deeply his music is woven into the national identity.
The farewell is not yet complete. A second mass will be held this Friday, September 11, at 11:00 a.m. at the Parroquia San Sebastián in Ocú, Herrera, Carrizo’s hometown. There, family, friends, musicians and residents of the town where his story began will have a final opportunity to say goodbye to the artist.
As his family noted, keeping his legacy alive goes beyond replaying his songs — it means embracing the joy, humility and Panamanian pride he embodied. As the artist himself put it in his final message: “When you hear my music, I will be there.”
This story was originally reported by La Prensa.