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Johnny Rodriguez, Mexican American country star, dead at 73

BBG News

Legendary Mexican-American country artist Johnny Rodriguez, often hailed as the first of his kind, has passed away at the age of 73.

On May 9th, Aubry Rodriguez announced his passing via social media without specifying the cause.

Aubry Rodriguez penned that Dad wasn’t just an internationally acclaimed musician, whose talent inspired countless people worldwide, but also a cherished spouse, parent, uncle, and sibling. His kindness, humor, and empathy significantly influenced everyone lucky enough to know him.

Juan Raul Davis Rodriguez, hailing from Sabinal, Texas, gained popularity in the ’70s, known for a sound deeply influenced by western swing and honky-tonk heritage. He charted six singles on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs list, with nine more reaching the Top 10. Among his cherished hits are “Ridin’ My Thumb to Mexico.

Music

The country singer mentions that the orchestral piece ‘Evangeline vs. the Machine’ connects with his faith-based performance he plans to deliver at Stagecoach in 2024, as it is rooted in gospel music.

Rodriguez first embarked on his musical journey at Alamo Village, which was once a film set for a John Wayne production transformed into a popular tourist spot in Texas. His career break came when renowned Texas Ranger, Joaquin Jackson, discovered him singing behind bars and subsequently introduced him to local music mogul James “Happy” Shahan.

At Alamo Village, Tom T. Hall, a well-known country singer, stumbled upon him and recruited the 20-year-old to play guitar in his band. Rodriguez later secured a contract with Mercury Records, debuting in 1973 with his first album, “Introducing Johnny Rodriguez.” This record included his initial hit, “Pass Me By (If You’re Only passing Through),” as well as the country chart-topper “You Always Come Back (to Hurting Me),” a poignant ballad that mirrored the heartbreak style of George Jones.

Rodriguez’s honky-tonk style was heavily influenced by Merle Haggard and Lefty Frizzell. In the ’70s, his music mirrored that of his contemporary Freddy Fender, who blended Tejano sounds into his tunes. Similarly, Rodriguez skillfully incorporated mariachi and Tex-Mex elements into his compositions, often singing in Spanish. A notable example is when he sang a verse of Don Gibson’s “I Can’t Stop Loving You” in Spanish during an audition for Mercury Records.

Rodriguez expressed in a PBS documentary to Ken Burns that “Country music was much like the tunes of our kindred spirits. Just as there are tales in Mexican music, so too do country songs convey similar narratives, albeit in different tongues.

Music

The musical journey of Johnny Rodriguez started off promisingly. However, he is now confronting a serious accusation of murder from the 1970s, when he was a renowned country music artist.

Throughout the ’70s and ’80s, his string of successful hits persisted. Songs such as “Dance With Me (Just One More Time)” and “I Just Can’t Get Her Out of My Mind” were among them. He had a unique talent for reinterpreting songs, covering tunes like the Beatles’ “Something” and the Eagles’ “Desperado.” The supergroup the Highwaymen invited him to contribute his voice on their rendition of Woody Guthrie’s “Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos),” a song that dealt with a true event, highlighting the unfair treatment faced by Mexican farmworkers in the U.S.

In his time as a country musician, Rodriguez faced personal hurdles similar to those experienced by many in his profession, such as battles with substance abuse and a 1998 incident where he accidentally shot an acquaintance whom he thought was a burglar, leading to his arrest. However, he was later found not guilty. One of Rodriguez’s marriages was to Lana Nelson, the daughter of Willie Nelson, in 1995.

Nonetheless, Rodriguez’s remarkable career was celebrated at the pinnacle of authority – he graced the inaugural ball for George H. W. Bush in 1989. Later, in 2007, he was enshrined in the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame and was honored with the Institute of Hispanic Culture’s Pioneer Award in 2010. He persisted in performing even into his sixties.

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2025-05-12 23:31

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