Singer and Original Pinoy Music (OPM) icon Claire dela Fuente has passed on. She was 62.
The jukebox singer, born Clarita Crisostomo Dela Fuente-De Guzman on Dec. 28, 1958, died this morning due to cardiac arrest. The sad news was confirmed by ABS-CBN showbiz reporter MJ Felipe on his Twitter page.
“Relatives of the singer confirmed her passing thru composer and music producer Jonathan Manalo who is close to the family," Felipe said in his social media post.
Dela Fuente achieved celebrity status in the late 1970s with the jukebox hit "Sayang". She was dubbed "The Karen Carpenter of the Philippines" as her voice has a striking resemblance to that of the late singer.
Her first album in 1977 was then the Philippines' biggest ever seller. She went on to record seven more albums. Besides "Sayang", she is also known for hits like "Minsan-Minsan" and "Nakaw Na Pag-ibig". She was given the title "Queen of Tagalog Songs" alongside Rico J. Puno as her counterpart.
She was also named "Jukebox Queen" together with her contemporaries Imelda Papin, Eva Eugenio, and the late Didith Reyes.