The Mexican singer Vicente Fernández, who sold more than 65 million albums and won a combined dozen Grammys and Latin Grammys during his career, died yesterday at the age of 81.
Fernández had suffered medical complications after falling and injuring the cervical vertebrae in his spine in his ranch near Guadalajara, the cradle of mariachi music, in August.
Fernández was the undisputed master of “rancheras” — the tormented love songs belted out to a backdrop of multiple guitars and swelling trumpets. He was famous for sentimental and macho hits such as Por Tu Maldito Amor (For Your Accursed Love) and the bittersweet Que Te Vaya Bonito (I Wish You The Best).
With his trademark sombreros, thick eyebrows and dark moustache, he was viewed as a Frank Sinatra-esque figure for Mexican fans.
Fernández, the son of a rancher, also appeared in dozens of movies.
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He performed to packed houses throughout Europe, the United States and Latin America, before retiring from the stage in 2016. His swansong was a final concert at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, comprising of a repertoire of nearly 50 songs.
Spanish-language singers around the world have led the tributes to Fernández. Gloria Estefan, the Cuban-American star, described herself as a huge fan, tweeting: “I will continue to love, respect and admire him because of the great person he was and the deep imprint he left on history.”
NBC News reported that he was so widely revered that the president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, released a statement, saying: “My condolences to family, friends and the millions of admirers of Vicente Fernández, a symbol of the ranchera music of our time, known and recognised in Mexico and abroad.”
President Biden also sent condolences from the US, hailing Fernández as an “icon”.
“The music of Vicente Fernández created memories for millions,” Biden tweeted. “Vicente will be remembered for generations to come.”
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Meanwhile, fans flocked to the hospital where the singer died yesterday. A tearful Miguel del Toro, 65, clutching a scrapbook of Fernández memorabilia, said: “I feel sadness, but also happiness because now he is singing to the Virgin.”
Fernández’s life saw the best and worst of Mexico — the worst being the abduction of his eldest son, Vicente Fernández Jr, during a tour in 1998. Fernández Jr was held for 121 days against a ransom demand of $10 million.
To prove they were serious, the kidnappers cut off two of the young man’s fingers. He was eventually released after the payment of a reported $3.2 million ransom.
