Trailblazing country singer Johnny Rodriguez has died aged 73.
The news was confirmed by his daughter, Aubry Rae Rodriguez, on social media on Saturday.
‘It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Johnny Rodriguez, who left us peacefully on May 9th, surrounded by family,’ she wrote.
‘Dad was not only a legendary musician whose artistry touched millions around the world, but also a deeply loved husband, father, uncle, and brother whose warmth, humour, and compassion shaped the lives of all who knew him.
‘While the world has lost an extraordinary talent, we have lost someone irreplaceable – and we ask for privacy as we navigate this painful moment together.’
The legend’s death follows reports earlier this week that he had entered hospice care.
Born in 1951, Rodriguez was the first major Hispanic artist to achieve mainstream success in country music.
His fusion of traditional country sounds with Spanish lyrics and Latin influences helped broaden the genre’s appeal and opened doors for future generations of Latino artists.
Born in Sabinal, Texas, Johnny was the second youngest of ten children.
His teenage years were marred by personal tragedy – his father died of cancer when Johnny was 16, and his older brother died in a car accident the following year.
These events led to a troubled period during which he was briefly jailed at age 18. While in jail, he was overheard singing by Texas Ranger Joaquin Jackson, who introduced him to promoter ‘Happy’ Shahan.
Shahan hired Rodriguez to perform at the Alamo Village tourist attraction, where he was discovered by country stars Tom T. Hall and Bobby Bare.
Encouraged by Hall and Bare, Rodriguez moved to Nashville in 1971 with just $14 and a guitar.
He soon signed with Mercury Records and released his debut single, Pass Me By (If You’re Only Passing Through), in 1972, which reached No. 9 on the Billboard country chart.
His breakthrough came in 1973 with You Always Come Back (To Hurting Me), his first No. 1 hit, followed by Ridin’ My Thumb to Mexico, which also topped the charts.
Rodriguez became known for incorporating Spanish verses into his songs, a novelty in country music at the time, and was hailed as the genre’s first Hispanic star.
Throughout the 1970s, he released a string of hits, including That’s the Way Love Goes and Love Put a Song in My Heart.
His debut album, Introducing Johnny Rodriguez, reached No. 1 on the country albums chart, and he received multiple nominations from the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music.
In 1979, Rodriguez signed with Epic Records and worked with producer Billy Sherrill. While his chart success waned, he still achieved Top 10 hits in the 1980s, such as Foolin’ and How Could I Love Her So Much.
In 1998, headlines exploded with news of Rodriguez fatally shooting a man he believed to be a burglar. Rodriguez was charged with murder but was acquitted by a Texas jury, which deemed the incident self-defense.
He toured extensively across the U.S. and internationally, playing venues from the Ryman Auditorium to Carnegie Hall.
He was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007 and received the Pioneer Award from the Institute of Hispanic Culture in 2010.
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