Remembering Felipe Staiti: Enanitos Verdes Guitarist and Vocalist Passes Away at 64
Felipe Staiti, the guitarist and founding member of the iconic Argentine rock band Enanitos Verdes, has passed away at the age of 64. His death was confirmed on Tuesday through a statement on the band’s official X account.
“His music, his dedication, and his story remain forever with us and with all those who accompanied him throughout these years,” the statement read.
Staiti died on Monday due to health complications following his hospitalization in Mendoza, Argentina, according to the national news outlet Los Andes.
Born in Mendoza in 1961, Staiti was a pivotal figure in Enanitos Verdes, which formed in 1979 alongside lead vocalist and bassist Marciano Cantero and drummer Daniel Piccolo. The lineup later expanded to include guitarist and vocalist Sergio Embrioni and keyboardist Tito Dávila.
Enanitos Verdes achieved widespread acclaim with hits such as “Lamento Boliviano” and “La Muralla Verde,” becoming a prominent part of the Latin rock movement that gained global traction in the 1990s. Notably, as of March 31, the band’s classic ballad “Lamento Boliviano” joined the Spotify Billions club, surpassing one billion streams on the platform.
In 1997, following the release of their eighth studio album, “Guerra Gaucha,” which introduced more socially and politically charged themes, former Los Angeles Times reporter Enrique Lavin acknowledged Enanitos Verdes as a “perennial presence on the Southern California rock en español scene.”
After the death of longtime band member Cantero in September 2022 due to kidney complications, Staiti took on Cantero’s role as lead vocalist, making his debut during a live performance at the Bésame Mucho Festival at Dodger Stadium that December.
According to Los Andes, Staiti had been battling health issues leading up to his passing. He contracted a bacterial infection in Mexico in late 2024, which, combined with his celiac disease, caused severe dehydration and a month-long hospitalization. This health decline resulted in significant weight loss, impacting his vocal ability and leading to the cancellation of multiple performances across South America.
In 2025, Enanitos Verdes planned to embark on the “Huevos Revuletos Tour” in collaboration with Hombres G, with stops scheduled in various California cities, including Highland, San Jose, and Los Angeles.
The band is still scheduled to perform at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on May 26.
