It’s now been over a week since many of us first learned of the passing of Nectail Díaz, better known as Sumohair…I only met Sumo a handful of times, but even if I wasn’t already a fan of his music, particularly with Reyna Tropical, I would have been impressed by him. While his demeanor was often stoic, I found him to be a warm individual, as intensely obsessed with sound as I am. I barely even know what to say about his loss. I know I’ll be dedicating this month’s Moods to him with the mood being “Tristeza,” but sadness barely explains what I feel at Sumo’s passing. Such a great loss for the LA and Worldwide musical community, at a moment when his star was very much on the rise. But the past week of tributes & remembrances has also shown what a profound and positive effect Sumo had on so many people…and so perhaps it is like the song “Tristeza,” where his passing has left us, “sola sin Tristeza.” Perhaps…but this loss mixes with more than a few others, and so it’s hard to know how to feel, or what else to say, other than the words above…
There is currently a GoFundMe for Sumohair’s family & to help fund memorial services and tribute performances, which you can donate to by clicking this link.