Carlos Marin Of Il Divo Has Died At 53

Dec 23, 2021 by apost team

The vocalist Carlos Marin has died, according to a Dec. 19 announcement from the multinational quartet Il Divo's Twitter. The singer, who died of COVID-19 complications, was 53.

Marin was best known for being part of the widely popular musical powerhouse Il Divo.

The four-member group was put together by Simon Cowell in 2003. He traveled around the world to find the perfect people for the group. Apart from Marin, the group’s baritone, the quartet includes Swiss tenor Urs Buehler, French tenor Sebastien Izambard and the American tenor David Miller.

According to Il Divo's website, they are considered a "crossover group of classical music." They have numerous multi-lingual hits, including “Regresa a Mi (Unbreak My Heart),” originally performed by Toni Braxton, and a duet with Toni Braxton called “The Time Of Our Lives" — which was the official song of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. They also have duets with beloved and highly talented musical icons such as Celine Dion.

Cowell wrote on Twitter that he was “devastated” by the news of Marin’s passing.

"I am finding this so difficult to put into words how I feel right now," Cowell tweeted.

“I am devastated Carlos Marin has passed away. He loved life. He loved performing and always had so much appreciation towards the fans who supported the group from day 1. Rest in peace Carlos. I will miss you.”

According to Variety, Marin was hospitalized with COVID-19 on Dec. 8, entering the intensive care unit at Manchester Royal Hospital in England. Marin was on tour with Il Divo in the U.K. when he fell ill.

Marin was born in Rüsselsheim, Germany, on Oct. 13, 1968, though he was raised in Hesse, Germany, and Spain. Despite his German upbringing, Carlos was a Spanish lyric singer and was very proud of it. He was able to release his first album in Germany at the young age of 8 years old. The album is titled "The Little Caruso,” and it features a song that Marin sang in front of a 700-person audience. Talking about his passion for singing, Marin said:

"Singing is my way of saying what I feel, my way of life. Sometimes when I throw a melody to the audience I feel sad remembering how my father, who unfortunately is no longer with me, liked that song, or melancholy because as time goes by, or joy … the same joy I felt as a child when I sang it for the first time. Singing is what makes me feel alive, so thank you for letting me continue making a living from what I love."

Although Marin was an accomplished singer before he met Cowell, it was thanks to the media mogul that the up-and-coming singer became an international sensation.

According to The New York Times, Cowell had the idea to form a group like the Three Tenors in the early 2000s, and so the “American Idol” judge began looking for opera singers around the world. At first, Cowell was frustrated, as he told reporters at the time. He had come up short, unable to find the perfect singers. But then he met Marin.

apost.com

“A year and a half ago, I thought it was never going to happen,” Cowell said. “I gave it three months, and then I got a visit from Carlos Marín, a 35-year-old Spaniard. A star had walked into my office. He was very charming and, when he sang, every hair on my neck stood up.”

It didn’t take long for Cowell to assemble the rest of the supergroup once he had found the Spanish superstar. And today, nearly two decades later, the opera-pop crossover group is well-known throughout the world — not to mention the critical acclaim they have received.

In his AllMusic review of the group’s self-titled 2005 album, James Christopher Monger writes that the group’s singers “tackle standards like ‘My Way’ and ‘Unchained Melody’ with an expert precision and pomp — the latter is sung in Italian — that aptly conveys their obvious talents.”

The supergroup also saw commercial success. Not only have they released over 160 gold and platinum tracks in 35 countries, but Il Divo has sold more than 30 million copies of their albums across the globe. Fans would also flock in droves to see the quartet live.

But with Marin gone, it’s hard to imagine how the group will continue.

“It is with heavy hearts that we are letting you know that our friend and partner, Carlos Marin, has passed away. He will be missed by his friends, family and fans. There wiIl never be another voice or spirit like Carlos,” Il Divo wrote on Twitter.

“For 17 years the four of us have been on this incredible journey of Il Divo together, and we will miss our dear friend. We hope and pray that his beautiful soul will rest in peace."

Rest in peace, Carlos Marin. How will you remove Marin’s legacy? Do you have a favorite Il Divo song? Let us know — and pass this on to others to keep his memory alive.