Vicente Fernández, his legacy and the reactions after his death, the last great ranchera singer of Mexico

Singer Vicente Fernández died at the age of 81 this Sunday at 6:15 a.m., the family reported through the artist’s Instagram account.

He was born in Huentitán El Alto, Jalisco, on February 17, 1940. His prolific artistic career began in 1965, when he auditioned at XEW-AM. A year later he signed his first contract with the Sony Music label; there his first musical successes were recorded.

At the same time, he started working on Televisa, where the interpretation of songs like Return Return they positioned it in the taste of the people. His fame spread throughout Mexico and Latin America.

El Charro de Huentitán, as he was known, recorded more than 80 albums. Devoting himself to singing, according to one of his latest posts, was the best decision he could make.

After a long career, in 2016, Vicente Fernández announced his retirement of the stages with a concert at the Azteca stadium called An Aztec in the Azteca. One of his last appearances, in 2019, was when he shared the stage with his son Alejandro Fernández and his grandson Alex Fernández at the Latin Grammy awards, where they joined their voices to interpret Return Return.

Mexican idol Vicente Fernández died at age 81

The also businessman and record producer lost his life after having the country in suspense in recent weeks, but especially in the last hours, since on Saturday the family reported that he was in a “critical state” of health and “with very reserved prognosis ”.

One of the sons of the late artist, Vicente Fernández Jr.He dedicated a few short words to his father: “Thank you for everything! I love you, father, “he wrote on social media.

So far, the family has not given information about what will follow for them or about the tributes that are planned for Fernández.

The actor also arrived in early August at a private hospital in Guadalajara (western Mexico) after suffering a fall that caused a blow to the cervicals near the skull, injuring his spinal cord and leaving him without movement of his arms and legs.

He made his film debut in 1971, in Charcoal tacos; then he participated in classics of Mexican cinema, What Law of the hill, The son of the people The The devil walks among nuns.

Due to this, he had to undergo emergency surgery that caused respiratory deterioration and left him connected to artificial respiration, for which he remained in intensive care for about six weeks. In mid-September, the interpreter showed improvement and remained in a common hospital room to receive physical rehabilitation. But at the beginning of December he was re-admitted to the intensive care area because his health condition deteriorated.

In previous days you could see his children, his grandchildren and his wife, María del Refugio Abarca – known as Doña Cuquita -, at the doors of the hospital, leaving to visit Chente and approaching the press that crowded in the vicinity. He had four children: Alejandro, Vicente Fernandez Jr., Gerardo and Alejandra Fernández.

The death of Chente Fernández coincides with the Day of the Virgin, patron saint of Mexico and for which the singer felt great devotion, as demonstrated by dedicating songs to her in his concerts. That date was of the utmost importance to him, hence, year after year he sang his Mañanitas and he venerated her with great respect when he attended the parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Huentitán El Alto, and whose parish priest, Father Fausto Pelayo, referred to Vicente as “a great Guadalupano”.

Featuring other iconic song performances, such as For your damn love, A million springs, Here between us, My way, The king, Fernández marked his career, but also the history of ranchera music, which survives until the moment after great idols, such as Pedro Infante or José Alfredo Jiménez, thanks to the Charro de Huentitán, who made the concept of mexican male an extension of himself.

With his extensive musical career and more than 76 million records sold it got four Latin Grammys starting in 2002; two Grammys in 2010 and 2015, respectively, and six Billboard Awards. In addition, he has a star with his name placed on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California, which he unveiled in 1998.

Fortunately, the Fernández dynasty and the family vocation for ranchera music continue with his son Alejandro Fernández and his grandson Alex.

But Fernández also generated controversy after statements he made during an interview in May 2019 about his health. He claimed that he had been admitted to a hospital in Houston, United States, to undergo liver surgery, but decided to refuse a transplant because he did not “want to sleep with (his) wife while he had the liver of another man, who could have been homosexual. or drug addict ”.

In January 2021, Fernández sparked another controversy after placing his hand on a fan’s chest while taking a photo with his family. A few days later, he issued an apology to the woman’s family, stating: “I admit I was wrong, I don’t know if I was joking, maybe it was a joke (…), I don’t know. I don’t remember, there were a lot of people (with whom I took photos). I sincerely offer an apology. “

Other reactions

One of the first people in the entertainment world to mourn the death of the Charro de Huentitán was the actress Florinda Meza. “Mexican to the core, died on December 12. May the Virgin receive him and take him to heaven. Rest in peace, Vicente Fernández ”, he wrote on his Twitter account.

The singer Ricardo Montaner manifested himself in this way through Twitter: “Don Vicente Fernández has left for eternity, his infinite legacy will continue to ring in the hearts of millions. Kind and considerate man with his colleagues. Peace, Don Vicente, peace to your dear family ”.

“Sad news, this day #VicenteFernandez leaves us,” wrote entertainment journalist Paty Chapoy on her Twitter account.

Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe recalled this with this phrase: “Vicente Fernández’s departure hurts, let him continue to inspire from heaven. Let the applause continue. ‘If you. they don’t tire of applauding, their Chente never tires of singing ‘”.

The president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, also expressed: “I convey my condolences to family, friends and millions of admirers of Vicente Fernández, a symbol of the ranchera song of our time, known and recognized in Mexico and abroad.”