WILLEMSTAD - Beloved Curaçaoan singer Toni Worrell, who recently reintroduced himself to his followers by his birth name, Roy, has passed away unexpectedly. The news was confirmed Monday afternoon by trombonist Giovanni Atalita, who performed alongside him for many years aboard the Freewinds cruise ship.

“I heard the news this morning—they called me,” said a visibly emotional Atalita. “We had a very strong bond. I met him on the Freewinds, where we played together. He invited me to his home several times. He was a beautiful, musical man.”

According to Atalita, Worrell was scheduled to perform at a benefit concert on November 20, organized by the Freewinds band with which he was still active. “He was in contact with them just yesterday,” Atalita added. “And now he’s gone. It’s hard to believe.”

Worrell rose to prominence in the 1980s with a blend of soul and later gospel music, becoming a cornerstone of Curaçao’s music scene. He performed at numerous local events and was widely admired for his distinctive voice and warm stage presence.

Just a day before his passing, Worrell shared an emotional message on Facebook, asking his followers to call him by his true name, Roy. “I’m no longer an artist. Toni was my stage name. My true name, given by Jehovah, is Roy. I don’t make music—I am music,” he wrote.

The post turned out to be his final message. Friends and fellow musicians across Curaçao have expressed shock and sadness at the news. “We were still expecting to hear him sing again,” Atalita said softly. “Now there’s only silence. He was music in everything he did.”