Vicente Fernández, an iconic and legendary Mexican singer, actor, and film producer died on Sunday morning (12th December) at 6:15 a.m. in a hospital in Jalisco state. He was 81.
He has been the source of inspiration for a new generation of performers and also for his son Alejandro Fernández who is also a singer by profession.
In the month of August 2021, Fernandez suffered a fall and there was some issue with his spinal cord. He got treatment in Guadalajara, Mexico, and was on ventilatory assistance and in ICU (Intensive care unit).
Popular Mexican Singer Vicente Fernández dies at 81
A couple of years back in 2019, he disclosed that he had a cancerous lump in his liver, however, he did not opt for a liver transplant.
His family took to social media platform Instagram saying, “It was an honor and great pride to share with everyone a great musical career and give everything for the audience. Thank you for continuing to applaud, thank you for continuing to sing.”
Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Mexican President expressed his condolences to the late singer by referring to him as “a symbol of the ranchera music.”
Transmito mi pésame a familiares, amigos y millones de admiradores de Vicente Fernández, símbolo de la canción ranchera de nuestro tiempo, conocido y reconocido en México y en el extranjero.
— Andrés Manuel (@lopezobrador_) December 12, 2021
Three Grammys and nine Latin Grammys award winner Fernández is popular for his superhit songs like “El Rey,” and “Lástima que seas ajena”.
He is famous not only in Mexico but also in the US and other countries. Some of his songs like “Volver, Volver” and “Como Mexico no hay dos” were very popular among the immigrant communities from Mexico in the U.S.
Fernández, also popular by his nickname ″Chente″ has influenced many great Mexican musicians like Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, Pitbull, and Maluma who paid tributes to the beloved singer on social media platform Twitter and Instagram.
Alejandra Frausto, Mexico’s secretary of culture, paid tributes to the singer in a tweet by writing, “It is with deep sadness that I receive the news that one of the most important artists of Mexican popular culture, the undisputed symbol of ranchera music, dies. A million mariachis accompany you on your way. His infinite musical legacy will continue to resonate strongly.”
El merecido homenaje del Gobierno de México a la vida y trayectoria de Vicente Fernández, el “Charro de Huentitán”, se realizará más adelante con respeto y en coordinación con la familia Fernández. Por el momento, su viuda, hijos y demás familia permanecerán en Jalisco. pic.twitter.com/u9AbGBstOv
— Alejandra Frausto (@alefrausto) December 13, 2021
Vicente Fernández was born in the year 1940 in the town of Huentitán El Alto in the western state of Jalisco. He appeared in more than 390 movies and sold more than 50 million records in his professional career. He was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the year 1998.
Famous Puerto Rican singer, Ricky Martin said, “I am heartbroken. Don Chente has been an angel to me all my life. The only thing that gives me comfort at this moment, is that every time we saw each other I told him how important he was to me.”
Estoy con el corazón roto. Don Chente conmigo fue un ángel toda la vida. El me quiso mucho y yo a él. Siempre que iba a Guadalajara venía a mis conciertos y lo único que me consuela el alma, en este momento, es que cada vez que nos veíamos le decía lo importante que era para mi. pic.twitter.com/gNvSNwGV99
— Ricky Martin (@ricky_martin) December 12, 2021
Fernández is survived by his spouse, María del Refugio Abarca Villasenor, and three sons, Vicente Jr., Gerardo, Alejandro, and a daughter, Alejandra.
