2024-04-14 22:49:04
He was the singer of the most popular reggae band in Mexico: The Rakes. But he was also a communicator and a teacher much loved by the artistic community of his country. Gerardo Pimientel, better known as “Zopi“died last week after battling leukemia for three years.
Zopi was one of the founders of Los Rastrillos, a group where the Argentine guitarist Hernán “Perikles” Campodónico (former member of Fidel Nadal’s band and Ariel Prat’s Houseman René Band) has also played for years. The Mexican band has three decades of experience, releasing albums like Latin American Revolution y Lights (2013); In 2021 she was shocked by the illness of her singer and bassist, who two years later underwent a bone marrow transplant.
Zopi was host of the program Reggaevolution at the Reactor station of the Mexican Radio Institute (IMER), and also worked as a workshop leader for Arts and Crafts Factory (FARO) of Orientespecifically in Journalism and Community Radio.
Before Zopi’s death, the other members of Los Rastrillos organized a Reggae Jam, a meeting in which funds were raised for the treatment of their colleague and friend. “Rest in Zion, blessings to all his family”, “Thank you for so much, a lot of light”, were some of the messages that fans published on social networks, upon hearing the news.