Polito Vega, who notably became the most powerful man in the radio industry for decades, has died. He was 84.
La Mega 97.9 delivered the saddening news on Instagram, confirming that Vega died Thursday.
"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Polito Vega," the station's statement read. "We cannot express how much we will miss him, but we are grateful for the time we had to share with him and the legacy he leaves in the world of radio."
The post, however, did not disclose Polito Vega's cause of death. It also did not mention whether the radio icon suffered from illnesses before passing.
Fans and listeners around the globe left heartfelt messages in different languages to pay tribute to the late radio star.
RIP Polito Vega. A truth teller. Especially when it came to those using up the island of Puerto Rico for their gain. Take that as you may. #RIPPOLITOVEGA
— Brian Mcknight’s illegitimate stepchild (@t_kryssy) March 10, 2023
Polito Vega's Legacy Remembered
The Puerto Rico native, whose real name was Hipolito Vega Torres, tried his luck when he relocated to New York City.
Initially, he wanted to pursue his passion for singing. But he left the dream and found his calling inside a radio station instead.
Vega first served as a DJ on "Fiesta time," a half-hour show which aired on WEVD-AM. In an interview (per Billboard Pro), he felt like he was in heaven when the station decided to run a 24-hour program and gave him a midnight to 6 a.m. shift.
The show became successful, and it reportedly allowed him to express himself freely.
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He soon transferred to WBNX, where he met Raúl Alarcón. The senior program director led him to his life-changing career as he established his first radio station in the US and hired Vega to fill in the seat.
Throughout his career behind the radio booth's microphone, Vega set a record by becoming the first person to play a bachata, reggaeton, and a record by a Fania artist.
"He has seen - and heard - it all, and he retains an uncanny ability to judge what's good and what's lacking, despite the constant change in musical trends and the whims of an extremely fickle public," Alarcón said. "He has a golden ear that can't be fooled and he is as unfailingly relevant today as he was 50 years ago."
In 2009, Vega held his 50th anniversary celebration at Madison Square Garden, during which he welcomed famous performers, including Alejandro Sanz, Enrique Iglesias, Juanes, Gloria Trevi, and Don Omar, to name a few.
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