10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Country music star dies aged 73 as family pay tribute to ‘extraordinary talent'
COUNTRY music pioneer Johnny Rodriguez has died at 73.
The Texas-born star had six number one hits - and 20 top 10s - in his heyday between 1973 and 1978.
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Johnny Rodriguez has passed away at 73
Credit: Saving Country Music
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Rodriguez helped to define the genre of country music
Credit: Getty
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Rodriguez's teenage years were racked by tragedy
Credit: Spotify
Rodriguez helped to define the genre of country music.
He was born in Texas in 1951, and in his early years was an alter boy and football team captain.
But his teenage years were racked by tragedy.
His father died from cancer when he was 16, and then his brother the following year in a car crash.
The trauma of these losses led him into trouble with the law - and country music.
Legend has it that in 1969, aged 18, Rodriguez was thrown in jail after he and his friends stole and barbecued a goat.
Others say that the spell in prison was simply punishment for an unpaid fine.
Either way, his singing from his jail cell was noticed by famous Texas ranger Joaquin Jackson, who went straight to his music promoter friend "Happy" Shahan to tell him about the young talent.
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It was through him that Rodriguez was booked to sing at the Almo Village tourist attraction where 1960 movie The Almo, directed by John Wayne, was filmed.
In 1971, Tom T. Hall and Bobby Bare passed through and were blown away by Rodriguez's voice.
The pair got in touch and told him he should move to Nashville.
Rodriguez's agreed and rocked up when he was 21 with just a guitar and $14.
Less than a year later, he signed a record deal with Mercury.
The first top-10 hit came with Pass Me By (If You're Only Passing Through), followed by a string of number ones.
His best-known hits include Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico, That's the way Love Goes and You Always Come Back (To Hurting Me).
Country music had its first Hispanic star in Rodriguez, opening the door for others to follow.
His use of Spanish lyrics and sounds brought country music to many Hispanic listeners for the first time.
In 1973, Johnny Rodriguez was nominated for the CMA's Male Vocalist of the Year.
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