Paulina Tamayo dead at 60: Career highlights, complete discography, and more explored as tributes pour in for 'La Grande del Ecuador'

Ecuadorian singer Paulina Tamayo, known as La Grande del Ecuador, has died at the age of 60, as reported by TMZ. On October 21, 2025, her official page on Instagram confirmed her death. She was reported to have died as a result of respiratory failure and cardiac arrest as the final cause. Her passing has resulted in grief within Ecuador, with her contemporary artists, fans, family, and leaders celebrating and paying tributes to her successful music career.

Paulina Tamayo was a dignified personality in the cultural and music world of Ecuador. She spent over 50 years popularizing the traditional Ecuadorian music globally. There were numerous tributes, posted by many artists, fans, family, and government officials, mourning her demise. According to CNN, Alegria Crespo, Minister of Education of Ecuador, the President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, and the Society of Authors and Composers of Ecuador (SAYCE) also expressed their condolences, highlighting her national importance, as well as her musical and cultural legacy within Ecuador.

Paulina Tamayo was buried in the National Theater of the House of Ecuadorian Culture, Quito. There were thousands of fans who came to pay their respects. The occasion marked her life and her enduring contribution to folk music in Ecuador.

Paulina Tamayo's career highlights

Paulina de las Mercedes Tamayo Cevallos was born in Quito, April 14, 1965. She started singing at seven years old when she joined a theater company of actor Don Ernesto Albán. With 12 years of experience on the theater stage, she fell in love with folk music. This early introduction developed into a lifetime devotion to traditional Ecuadorian genres such as pasillo, albazo, and waltz.

Paulina Tamayo's exceptional voice and style made her a hit among listeners outside Ecuador, with her music being played across Latin America, the United States, and Europe. Throughout her career, Tamayo was on the same stage with numerous prominent Latin artists such as Juan Gabriel, Rocio Dulcal, Alci Acosta, and Jose Luis Rodriguez El Puma. These partnerships aided in introducing Ecuadorian music to the rest of the world.

In 2016, she sold out the General Rumiynahui Coliseum in Quito as the first female Ecuadorian singer to do so. She was also awarded various prizes due to her works, including the Matilde Hidalgo de Prrocel Award and the Ecuadorian Music Award. Her fame was a reflection of her impact and the effort exerted in the process of maintaining musical traditions in the country.

Read More: Who was Paulina Tamayo? All about Ecuadorian singer as she dies at 60

Music and complete discography

Paulina Tamayo’s songs often reflected everyday emotions and national pride. Her most popular songs include Imploracion de amor, Fe perdida, Mentiras, Callecita de amor, Nuestro secreto (Our Secret), Amor dolor (Love Pain) and Morena la ingratitud. Such songs continue to be played on the Ecuadorian radio and are still popular among the older and younger generations.

Paulina Tamayo has a music catalogue comprising live and studio albums. Her most significant albums are

• Colección de Oro
• A Lo Grande Con la Grande
• Sinfónico A Lo Grande Con La Grande (En Vivo)
• Inimitable
• Navidad A Lo Grande
• Hoy Como Ayer
• 4 Décadas de Canto Apasionado
• Fiesta A Lo Grande

These albums demonstrate how she has been consistent in coming up with new music despite decades in the industry. She has released singles on large streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music as well.

Her newer compositions consist of Voy a perder la cabeza por tu amor (2025), Carnaval (2022), and Mi Plegaria (2025). These pieces illustrated her commitment to keeping the Ecuadorian sound alive in contemporary formats.

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