Havana, March 1 (RHC) -- Renowned musician Paulo Fernández Gallo -Paulito FG- died this Saturday in Havana, as a result of a car accident.

The accident occurred at the intersection of 12th Street and Malecón, in Havana's Vedado when his vehicle collided with a Transtur bus.

Paulito, one of the original innovators of timba and a popular salsa performer, began his professional career singing with Adalberto Álvarez and Dan Den. He later joined the band Opus 13, led by arrangers Joaquín Betancourt and Juan Manuel Ceruto, of which he assumed the direction in the early 1990s.

He changed the name of the group to La Élite, and since then he has been at the forefront of it, reaping an important discography and innumerable successes and recognitions.