Latest news with #TexasCountryMusicHallofFame
Express Tribune
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Johnny Rodriguez, pioneering Mexican American country music star, dies at 73
Johnny Rodriguez, a trailblazer in country music and the first major Mexican American artist in the genre, died on Friday at the age of 73. His daughter, Aubry Rodriguez, confirmed the news on social media, though no cause of death was disclosed. Rodriguez rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of chart-topping hits including 'Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico' and 'You Always Come Back (to Hurting Me).' He scored six No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and was known for his honky-tonk style, heavily influenced by legends like Merle Haggard and Lefty Frizzell. Born Juan Raoul Davis Rodriguez in Sabinal, Texas, he began playing guitar at age 7 and suffered personal tragedies early in life, including the deaths of his father and brother. He was discovered while singing in a Texas jail and later invited to Nashville, where he joined Tom T. Hall's band before launching his solo career. In 1973, Rodriguez released his debut single, 'Pass Me By (If You're Only Passing Through),' followed by multiple chart-topping hits. He received the Billboard Trend Setter Award as the first Mexican American to break into mainstream country music and was nominated for CMA Male Vocalist of the Year. Rodriguez was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007 and released over 35 albums across a four-decade career. He is survived by his wife, Debbie McNeely; daughter, Aubry; and sisters, Antonia and Eloisa. His influence on Chicano and Latino representation in country music remains profound, as he paved the way for future generations of Hispanic artists in the genre.
The Star
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Singer Johnny Rodriguez, whose 1970s country hits topped charts, dies at 73
Johnny Rodriguez poses for a photo in Nashville, Tenn., July 3, 1996. The country music star best known for chart-topping hits in the 1970s has died. He was 73. — AP Country music star Johnny Rodriguez, a popular Mexican American singer best known for chart-topping hits in the 1970s such as I Just Can't Get Her Out of My Mind , Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico and That's the Way Love Goes , has died. He was 73. Rodriguez died Friday in San Antonio from health complications, according to his daughter, Aubry Rodriguez. She also shared a statement on social media saying he went peacefully and 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. Rodriguez was named the most promising male vocalist at the 1972 Academy of Country Music Awards, and his debut, Introducing Johnny Rodriguez, was nominated for album of the year in 1973. More than a dozen of his albums and singles landed in the Top 10. Rodriguez later said his career suffered after he began to use drugs and alcohol excessively. Rodriguez was born in Sabinal, Texas, a small town about 60 miles (100 kilometers) west of San Antonio and about 90 miles (145 kilometers) east of the U.S.-Mexico border. A Texas jury acquitted Rodriguez of murder in 1999, about a year after he walked into his mother's house in Sabinal and shot once at an acquaintance whom he thought was a burglar. Israel Borrego, 26, died a day after he was shot. Rodriguez continued to play concerts in South Texas, and he was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007. — AP
Boston Globe
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Mexican American singer Johnny Rodriguez, whose 1970s country hits topped charts, dies at 73
Mr. Rodriguez was named the most promising male vocalist at the 1972 Academy of Country Music Awards, and his debut, 'Introducing Johnny Rodriguez,' was nominated for album of the year in 1973. More than a dozen of his albums and singles landed in the Top 10. Advertisement He later said his career suffered after he began to use drugs and alcohol excessively. Mr. Rodriguez was born in Sabinal, Texas, a small town about 60 miles west of San Antonio. A Texas jury acquitted Rodriguez of murder in 1999, about a year after he walked into his mother's house in Sabinal and shot at an acquaintance whom he thought was a burglar. Israel Borrego, 26, died a day after he was shot. Mr. Rodriguez continued to play concerts in South Texas, and he was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007.
The Advertiser
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Country singer Johnny Rodriguez dies at age 73
Country music star Johnny Rodriguez - best known for chart-topping hits in the 1970s such as 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. The Mexican-American singer died on Friday in San Antonio from health complications, according to his daughter, Aubry Rodriguez. She also shared a statement on social media saying he went peacefully and 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, humour, and compassion shaped the lives of all who knew him," she wrote. Rodriguez was named the most promising male vocalist at the 1972 Academy of Country Music Awards, and his debut, Introducing Johnny Rodriguez, was nominated for album of the year in 1973. More than a dozen of his albums and singles landed in the top 10. Rodriguez later said his career suffered after he began to use drugs and alcohol excessively. Rodriguez was born in Sabinal, Texas, a small town about 145km east of the US-Mexico border. A Texas jury acquitted Rodriguez of murder in 1999, about a year after he walked into his mother's house in Sabinal and shot once at an acquaintance whom he thought was a burglar. Israel Borrego, 26, died a day after he was shot. Rodriguez continued to play concerts in South Texas and was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007. Country music star Johnny Rodriguez - best known for chart-topping hits in the 1970s such as 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. The Mexican-American singer died on Friday in San Antonio from health complications, according to his daughter, Aubry Rodriguez. She also shared a statement on social media saying he went peacefully and 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, humour, and compassion shaped the lives of all who knew him," she wrote. Rodriguez was named the most promising male vocalist at the 1972 Academy of Country Music Awards, and his debut, Introducing Johnny Rodriguez, was nominated for album of the year in 1973. More than a dozen of his albums and singles landed in the top 10. Rodriguez later said his career suffered after he began to use drugs and alcohol excessively. Rodriguez was born in Sabinal, Texas, a small town about 145km east of the US-Mexico border. A Texas jury acquitted Rodriguez of murder in 1999, about a year after he walked into his mother's house in Sabinal and shot once at an acquaintance whom he thought was a burglar. Israel Borrego, 26, died a day after he was shot. Rodriguez continued to play concerts in South Texas and was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007. Country music star Johnny Rodriguez - best known for chart-topping hits in the 1970s such as 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. The Mexican-American singer died on Friday in San Antonio from health complications, according to his daughter, Aubry Rodriguez. She also shared a statement on social media saying he went peacefully and 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, humour, and compassion shaped the lives of all who knew him," she wrote. Rodriguez was named the most promising male vocalist at the 1972 Academy of Country Music Awards, and his debut, Introducing Johnny Rodriguez, was nominated for album of the year in 1973. More than a dozen of his albums and singles landed in the top 10. Rodriguez later said his career suffered after he began to use drugs and alcohol excessively. Rodriguez was born in Sabinal, Texas, a small town about 145km east of the US-Mexico border. A Texas jury acquitted Rodriguez of murder in 1999, about a year after he walked into his mother's house in Sabinal and shot once at an acquaintance whom he thought was a burglar. Israel Borrego, 26, died a day after he was shot. Rodriguez continued to play concerts in South Texas and was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007. Country music star Johnny Rodriguez - best known for chart-topping hits in the 1970s such as 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. The Mexican-American singer died on Friday in San Antonio from health complications, according to his daughter, Aubry Rodriguez. She also shared a statement on social media saying he went peacefully and 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, humour, and compassion shaped the lives of all who knew him," she wrote. Rodriguez was named the most promising male vocalist at the 1972 Academy of Country Music Awards, and his debut, Introducing Johnny Rodriguez, was nominated for album of the year in 1973. More than a dozen of his albums and singles landed in the top 10. Rodriguez later said his career suffered after he began to use drugs and alcohol excessively. Rodriguez was born in Sabinal, Texas, a small town about 145km east of the US-Mexico border. A Texas jury acquitted Rodriguez of murder in 1999, about a year after he walked into his mother's house in Sabinal and shot once at an acquaintance whom he thought was a burglar. Israel Borrego, 26, died a day after he was shot. Rodriguez continued to play concerts in South Texas and was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007.
News18
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Johnny Rodriguez, First Latino Country Chart-Topper, Dies At 73
Curated By : Last Updated: May 11, 2025, 08:01 IST Johnny Rodriguez is no more. Johnny Rodriguez, the Mexican American country singer whose soulful voice and heartfelt hits lit up the charts in the '70s, has passed away at the age of 73. The beloved musician died on Friday, as confirmed by his daughter Aubry Rodriguez through a heartfelt social media tribute. She shared that he passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. '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. Hailing from Sabinal, Texas, a small town nestled west of San Antonio, Rodriguez made waves in country music with songs like 'Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico," 'I Just Can't Get Her Out of My Mind," and 'That's the Way Love Goes." His career took off quickly: he won the title of most promising male vocalist at the 1972 ACM Awards, and his debut album Introducing Johnny Rodriguez scored a nomination for Album of the Year in 1973. Over time, he racked up more than a dozen Top 10 hits across albums and singles. However, Rodriguez later acknowledged that his rising fame took a toll, as struggles with drugs and alcohol began affecting his professional life. Despite the ups and downs, he remained rooted in Texas, often performing in the South Texas circuit. In 2007, his contributions to country music were honored with an induction into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. His life wasn't without controversy. In 1999, Rodriguez was acquitted of murder after a tragic incident in which he shot a man he mistook for a burglar inside his mother's home. The victim, 26-year-old Israel Borrego, died the next day. Through it all, Johnny Rodriguez remained a cherished voice in country music. (With inputs from AP) News movies Johnny Rodriguez, First Latino Country Chart-Topper, Dies At 73
