Who is Tongo, Know about Tongo Biography, Net Worth, Age, Height, News, Wife, Girlfriend, Photo, Earnings & Religion
- Full Name: Jose Abelardo Gutierrez Alanya
- Stage Name/Alias: Tongo, “Le Tongué”
- Date of Birth: September 24, 1957
- Place of Birth: El Tambo, Huancayo, Peru
- Date of Death: March 10, 2023 (aged 65)
- Place of Death: Lima, Peru
- Occupations: Singer, entertainer, YouTuber, humorist
- Years Active: ~1980–2022
Career & Music
- He began as a Peruvian cumbia singer.
- His breakthrough came with the song “La Pituca”, which focused on themes of social status and inequality.
- He became widely known for his tongue-in-cheek covers of international hits, often in his own playful “Tonglish” (a humorous, broken-English style).
- Some of his well-known covers include:
- Justin Bieber – “Baby”
- System of a Down – “Chop Suey!”
- Linkin Park – “Numb”
- Eminem – “Rap God”
- Michael Jackson – “Billie Jean” (“Bili Yin”)
- He used to livestream on YouTube in his later years (2021–2022) to raise funds for his health, singing for viewers who donated.
- In 2020, he became more active on TikTok under the handle “tongoperu.”
Personal Life
- Spouse: Gladys Lupinta
- Children: He had 7 children with Gladys Lupinta.
- He lived in the Miraflores district of Lima.
- In 2010, the journalist Jaime Bayly publicly made Tongo the godfather of his (Bayly’s) third child, which shows they had a close friendship.
Health & Death
- He suffered from diabetes, which contributed to his health decline.
- He also experienced kidney failure, which is listed as a cause of death.
- He passed away on March 10, 2023.
Net Worth & Earnings
- Estimated net worth: US$ 3.89 million (according to PeopleAi) as of 2025.
- Other sources (Celebrity Birthdays) put his net worth at US$ 5 million.
- Regarding his royalties: In 2020, he reportedly received S/300,000 (Peruvian soles) in royalties from his songs through APDAYC (Peruvian association of authors & composers).
- He said he used this money to invest in a house in San Miguel, valued at about 1 million soles, and to pay for medical treatments.
Age & Physical Attributes
- He was 65 years old when he died in March 2023 (born in September 1957).
- I did not find reliable sources for his exact height. Some celebrity sites list his height as “not available.”
Religion
- I found no reliable public information about Tongo’s religion. His biographies (Wikipedia, etc.) do not mention any particular faith or religious affiliation.
- It’s possible that he kept his religious beliefs private, or they were not widely covered in media.
Recent / Notable News
- His death in March 2023 made headlines in Peru; media reported he died due to complications from kidney failure and diabetes.
- After his death, there was discussion of his royalties being inherited by his 7 children.
- His legacy was celebrated for being not just a “meme singer” but a genuine entertainer who connected deeply with ordinary Peruvians.
Disclaimer
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