Johnny Rodriguez, one in every of nation music’s first Hispanic stars and identified for Seventies hits “Ridin’ My Thumb to Mexico” and “That’s the Way Love Goes,” has died on the age of 73.
Rodriguez died on Friday after getting into hospice care. His daughter, Aubry Rodriguez, introduced information of his dying on social media, stating that he was surrounded by household. “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 profession, Rodriguez blazed the path for Hispanic musicians within the nation house. He discovered success on the charts for the reason that begin of his profession, incomes six No. 1 songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and 20 prime 10s. He was additionally 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, the place Texas Ranger Joaquin Jackson heard him and launched him to promoter “Happy” Shahan. He moved to Nashville at 21, the place he auditioned for Mercury Records and was subsequently signed to launch his 1972 breakthrough singles “Pass Me By (If You’re Only Passing Through)” and “Ridin’ My Thumb to Mexico.”
He launched his debut “Introducing Johnny Rodriguez” in 1973, incomes a No. 1 report on the Billboard Top Country Albums tally. After placing out greater than a dozen data with Mercury, he signed to Epic in 1979, the place he discovered reasonable success by the Nineteen Eighties and labored with producer Billy Sherrill.
Though he continued to launch albums all through the years, he confronted private turmoil in 1998 after he shot and killed a person in his house, pondering he was a burglar. After he was acquitted on all fees, he continued to tour and launch albums over time, together with 2012’s “Live From Texas.”
