Musician and composer Marcos Loya, who co-starred with Madonna in her iconic 1987 La Isla Bonita music video, has died. He had been unwell in recent years and had been left homeless, sleeping in his car
15:38, 15 Apr 2026Updated 16:36, 15 Apr 2026
Acclaimed musician and composer Marcos Loya has died(Image: Tzu Chi USA 360/YouTube)
Renowned musician and composer Marcos Loya, who shot to global fame alongside Madonna in her iconic 1987 video La Isla Bonita, has died.
While no official cause of death has been disclosed, the star had faced considerable hardship in recent times, at one stage finding himself without a home and sleeping rough in his vehicle.
His health had deteriorated over the past two years, prompting a star-studded benefit concert on 7 April 2024, where musicians, comedians, actors and supporters rallied together in a sold-out event to help cover his medical expenses. Photographs from his birthday celebrations last September showed him appearing fragile and confined to a wheelchair.
Marcos worked with Madonna(Image: Tzu Chi USA 360/YouTube)
The sad news was announced by Pop star! magazine founder Matthew Rettenmund, who shared a Facebook tribute. Posting a collection of images from the memorable video, he wrote: “Sadly, Marcos Loya, who we all remember from the La Isla Bonita music video, has died.
Nearly 20 years ago, he spoke about his close encounter with Madonna, saying, “I go to this audition. Madonna was actually looking for somebody in their 60s or 70s who looked like Don Juan from Carlos Castaneda’s book – you know, with a weathered face. So for a couple of weeks they auditioned all these old guys. Then they decided on a new direction.”
He recalled: “She’s recording an album. She comes out of the studio and at that time she was younger and very beautiful – like Marilyn Monroe, full-figured and flirtatious. She looks me over. I do the same thing I do to everyone: I put out my hand and said, ‘Hi, Marcos Loya.’ And she said, ‘Hi, I’m Madonna.'”
Pop superstar Madonna(Image: Getty)
“She was looking me up and down, trying to intimidate me. We talked for about 20 minutes. I brought my guitar, so we even started to jam a little bit. Then she said, ‘I’ve got to go back into the studio but I’ll see you on Sunday.’ Sunday was the day of the taping. So I knew I had the job.'”
Devastated tributes poured in following the announcement of his death. Madonna impersonator Denise Bella Vlasis shared her grief on Facebook, writing: “So very heartbroken to announce we have lost yet another icon connected to @madonna Marcos Loya was my friend…I loved him, and he was so good to me…
“He was a master musician and a gift to the music industry. Rest in heavenly grace my love. your music lives forever.”
Another mourner wrote: “Heartbroken to share the news of the passing of my musical brother Marcos Loya. He suffered a lot the last few years and I’m glad he will now be at peace…
“I’m grateful that I was able to spend some time with him and say my goodbyes today before he passed. He’ll never be forgotten. RIP Marcos, I love you.”
If you have been affected by this story, Cruse Bereavement Support offers free help to make sense of how you are feeling. Click here for their website or call 0808 808 1677.
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