Latest news with #TexasCountryMusicHallOfFame
New York Times
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Johnny Rodriguez, Country Music Star, Is Dead at 73
Johnny Rodriguez, who became the first Mexican American country music star with a string of hits, died on Friday. He was 73. His daughter, Aubry Rodriguez, announced his death in a social media post on Saturday. The post did not cite a cause of death. Mr. Rodriguez rose to fame in the 1970s and was best known for the hits 'Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico' and 'You Always Come Back (to Hurting Me).' He released six singles that reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, and nine others reached the Top 10. In 2007, Mr. Rodriguez was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, which described him as the 'greatest and most memorable Chicano Country singer of all time.' Juan Raoul Davis Rodriguez was born on Dec. 10, 1951, in Sabinal, Texas, around 65 miles west of San Antonio. A list of survivors was not immediately available. Mr. Rodriguez, the second youngest of 10 children, started playing guitar at the age of 7 when his older brother, Andres, bought him one. Their father died of cancer when Mr. Rodriguez was 16, around the same time Rodriguez formed a band, and Andres died the next year. The losses sent him 'spiraling,' according to the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. Mr. Rodriguez had spent time in jail by the time he was 18 for what is said to be an unpaid fine. He would pass time in the cell by singing and was overheard by Joaquin Jackson, a Texas Ranger, who eventually helped find Mr. Rodriguez a job as a singer and stagecoach driver at the Alamo Village, then a popular tourist attraction in Texas. The country musicians Tom T. Hall and Bobby Bare heard Mr. Rodriguez performing at the Alamo in 1971 and invited him to Nashville. Mr. Rodriguez, then 20, brought just his guitar and $14. Shortly after his arrival, he became a lead guitarist in Hall's band. In 1973, Mr. Rodriguez released his debut single and first Top 10 single, 'Pass Me By (If You're Only Passing Through).' His next three singles — 'You Always Come Back (to Hurting Me),' 'Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico' and 'That's the Way Love Goes' — all topped the charts. He was also nominated for the Country Music Association's male vocalist of the year award in 1973 and won the Billboard Trend Setter Award for first Mexican American to capture a national audience. In 1979, Mr. Rodriguez parted ways with his record label, Mercury, and signed with Epic. Three more of his songs — 'Down on the Rio Grande,' Foolin'' and 'How Could I Love Her So Much' — later reached the Top 10. He continued making music into the 1990s. In 1999, a jury acquitted Mr. Rodriguez of murder in the killing of an acquaintance he said was a burglar. The acquaintance, Israel Borrego, 26, was fatally shot once in the abdomen in 1998 at Mr. Rodriguez's home in Sabinal. Lawyers for Mr. Rodriguez argued that he was justified under Texas law to defend himself and his property. The singer, who was facing life in prison, rested his face in his hands as the verdict was announced. 'I'm just sorry that the whole incident took place,' he said. 'I don't want to go through anything like this again.' In 2010, he received the Pioneer Award from the Institute of Hispanic Culture, and in 2019, he was given the Living Legend Award from the Country Music Association of Texas. He released 35 albums in his four-decade career. During an interview in 2019, Mr. Rodriguez advised young artists to always write their own material. 'It separates you from everybody else,' he said. 'If you're really honest about it, that's the hardest part,' he added. 'It's like taking your clothes off in front of somebody.'
New York Times
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Johnny Rodriguez, Country Music Star, Dead at 73
Johnny Rodriguez, who became the first Mexican American country music star with a string of hits, died on Friday. He was 73. His daughter, Aubry Rodriguez, announced his death in a social media post on Saturday. The post did not cite a cause of death. Rodriguez rose to fame in the 1970s and was best known for the hits 'Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico' and 'You Always Come Back (to Hurting Me).' He released six singles that reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, and nine others reached the Top 10. In 2007, Rodriguez was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, which described him as the 'greatest and most memorable Chicano Country singer of all time.' Juan Raoul Davis Rodriguez was born on Dec. 10, 1951, in Sabinal, Texas, around 65 miles west of San Antonio. A list of survivors was not immediately available. Rodriguez, the second youngest of 10 children, started playing guitar at the age of 7 when his older brother, Andres, bought him one. Their father died of cancer when Rodriguez was 16, around the same time Rodriguez formed a band, and Andres died the next year. The losses sent him 'spiraling,' according to the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. Rodriguez had spent time in jail by the time he was 18 for what is said to be an unpaid fine. He would pass time in the cell by singing and was overheard by Joaquin Jackson, a Texas Ranger, who eventually helped find Rodriguez a job as a singer and stagecoach driver at the Alamo Village, then a popular tourist attraction in Texas. The country musicians Tom T. Hall and Bobby Bare heard Rodriguez performing at the Alamo in 1971 and invited him to Nashville. Rodriguez, then 20, brought just his guitar and $14. Shortly after his arrival, he became a lead guitarist in Hall's band. In 1973, Rodriguez released his debut single and first Top 10 single, 'Pass Me By (If You're Only Passing Through).' His next three singles — 'You Always Come Back (to Hurting Me),' 'Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico' and 'That's the Way Love Goes' — all topped the charts. He was also nominated for the Country Music Association's male vocalist of the year award in 1973 and won the Billboard Trend Setter Award for first Mexican American to capture a national audience. In 1979, Rodriguez parted ways with his record label, Mercury, and signed with Epic. Three more of his songs — 'Down on the Rio Grande,' Foolin'' and 'How Could I Love Her So Much' — later reached the Top 10. He continued making music into the 1990s. In 1999, a jury acquitted Rodriguez of murder in the killing of an acquaintance he said was a burglar. The acquaintance, Israel Borrego, 26, was fatally shot once in the abdomen in 1998 at Rodriguez's home in Sabinal. Lawyers for Rodriguez argued that he was justified under Texas law to defend himself and his property. The singer, who was facing life in prison, rested his face in his hands as the verdict was announced. 'I'm just sorry that the whole incident took place,' he said. 'I don't want to go through anything like this again.' In 2010, he received the Pioneer Award from the Institute of Hispanic Culture, and in 2019, he was given the Living Legend Award from the Country Music Association of Texas. He released 35 albums in his four-decade career. During an interview in 2019, Rodriguez advised young artists to always write their own material. 'It separates you from everybody else,' he said. 'If you're really honest about it, that's the hardest part,' he added. 'It's like taking your clothes off in front of somebody.'
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Groundbreaking Country Music Star Dead at 73
Johnny Rodriguez, a pioneer in country music, has died. He was 73 years old. Rodriguez, who was one of the first Hispanic singers to enter the genre, died Friday, May 9, his daughter announced in a heartfelt post on social media. "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," wrote his daughter Aubrey, 27, whom he shared with his second wife, Debbie McNeely. The three-time CMA nominee was reportedly in hospice care before his death. "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," Aubry continued in the Facebook post. "We are immensely grateful for the outpouring of love and support from fans, colleagues, and friends during this time of grief." Rodriguez's daughter concluded the announcement by noting, "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." Rodriguez, who was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007, kicked off his career in the 1970s, where he scored multiple Top 10 hits — including several No. 1 songs — throughout the '70s and '80s. Some of his biggest hits included 'You Always Come Back (To Hurting Me),' 'Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico' and 'That's the Way Love Goes.'
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Johnny Rodriguez, Pioneering Hispanic Country Singer, Dies at 73
Johnny Rodriguez, one of country music's first Hispanic stars and known for 1970s hits 'Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico' and 'That's the Way Love Goes,' has died at the age of 73. Rodriguez died on Friday after entering hospice care. His daughter, Aubry Rodriguez, announced news of his death on social media, stating that he was surrounded by family. '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,' she wrote. 'We are immensely grateful for the outpouring of love and support from fans, colleagues, and friends during this time of grief.' Throughout his career, Rodriguez blazed the trail for Hispanic musicians in the country space. He found success on the charts since the start of his career, earning six No. 1 songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and 20 top 10s. He was also honored by the Academy of Country Music and nominated for CMA Awards, and was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007. Rodriguez was born in Sabinal, Texas, in 1951. At the age of 18, he ended up in jail, where Texas Ranger Joaquin Jackson heard him and introduced him to promoter 'Happy' Shahan. He moved to Nashville at 21, where he auditioned for Mercury Records and was subsequently signed to release his 1972 breakthrough singles 'Pass Me By (If You're Only Passing Through)' and 'Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico.' He released his debut 'Introducing Johnny Rodriguez' in 1973, earning a No. 1 record on the Billboard Top Country Albums tally. After putting out more than a dozen records with Mercury, he signed to Epic in 1979, where he found moderate success through the 1980s and worked with producer Billy Sherrill. Though he continued to release albums throughout the years, he faced personal turmoil in 1998 after he shot and killed a man in his home, thinking he was a burglar. After he was acquitted on all charges, he continued to tour and release albums over the years, including 2012's 'Live From Texas.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mexican-American country singer Johnny Rodriguez dies aged 73
Country music star Johnny Rodriguez, a popular Mexican-American singer best known for chart-topping hits in the 1970s, including I Just Can't Get Her Out Of My Mind, Ridin' My Thumb To Mexico and That's The Way Love Goes, has died aged 73. Rodriguez died on Friday, according to social media statements posted by his daughter, Aubry Rodriguez. She said he died peacefully and 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.' Rodriguez was named the most promising male vocalist at the 1972 Academy of Country Music Awards, and his debut album, Introducing Johnny Rodriguez, earned a nomination for album of the year in 1973. Rodriguez was born in Sabinal, Texas, a small town about 60 miles west of San Antonio and about 90 miles east of the US-Mexico border. He was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007.
