Country music pioneer ‘whose artistry touched millions' dies at 73

Yahoo

13-05-2025

A country music pioneer who racked up several chart-topping hits during the 1970s has died at the age of 73.
Johnny Rodriguez died on Friday, May 9 'surround by family,' his daughter, Aubry Rodriguez, wrote on social media.
'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, humor, and compassion shaped the lives of all who knew him,' her post read.
'We are immensely grateful for the outpouring of love and support from fans, colleagues, and friends during this time of grief,' it continued. '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 late country musician was born Juan Rodriguez in Sabinal, Texas on Dec. 10, 1951, a PBS biography states.
From growing up 90 miles from the Mexican border, Rodriguez's musical influences ranged from mariachi to honky-tonk to traditional country.
'I listened to The Supremes, okay? I listened to Merle Haggard, to Hank Williams, and Jimmie Rodgers, of course. I was drawn to country music because I could relate more to what they were singing about. And also it was just like the music of our people,' Rodriguez told PBS. 'In Mexican music, you have stories. Mexican music and country music said almost the same thing, just in different languages.'
Incarcerated at age 18 for a minor offense, Rodriguez was discovered after he was heard singing in his cell. He changed his name from 'Juan Rodriguez' to 'Johnny Rogers' and performed under that name at Alamo Village. That was where the young artist was discovered by country greats Bobby Bare and Tom T. Hall.
Rodriguez later moved to Nashville, changing his surname back to Rodriguez but keeping 'Johnny.' He landed a recording contract with Mercury Records that released his first single, 'Pass Me By' in 1973. The track peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard country charts, making Rodriguez the first Hispanic-American to become a country music sensation.
Rodriguez's 1973 debut album, 'Introducing Johnny Rodriguez,' topped Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. It was also nominated for album of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
Rodriguez's six No. 1 country hits are 'You Always Come Back (To Hurting Me)' (1973), 'Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico' (1973), 'That's the Way Love Goes' (1974), 'I Just Can't Get Her Out Out of My Mind' (1975), 'Just Get Up and Close the Door' (1975) and 'Love Put a Song in My Heart' (1975). He enjoyed a streak of charting singles well into the late 1980s as well.
Overall, Rodriguez released 26 albums and 45 charting singles. He was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007. The musician received the Institute of Hispanic Culture Pioneer Award in 2010 for being the first major Hispanic singer in country music.
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Read the original article on MassLive.