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Beloved country music star Johnny Rodriguez has died aged 73.

Rodriguez had a great story behind his musical success. He suffered much at a young age; his father passed away from cancer when he was 16 years old, and then his brother died the following year in an automobile accident. This led to a few run-ins with the law on the musician’s part.

During one such teenage spell in jail, Rodriguez was overheard singing by a park ranger. The ranger went on to introduce him to a local music promoter. Soon, he moved to Nashville, where he was signed to Mercury Records.

In the 1970s, Rodriguez flew high, with six number-one songs. His first top ten hit was ‘Pass Me By (If You’re Only Passing Through)’. After this, he hit consecutive number ones with ‘You Always Come Back (To Hurting Me)’, ‘Ridin’ My Thumb to Mexico’ and ‘That’s the Way Love Goes’.

Soon, Johnny Rodriguez became country music’s first major Hispanic star, sometimes singing songs and phrases in Spanish, making him a crossover star to Hispanic listeners. The star has remained a hero in Texas and was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007.

The singer was taken into hospice care earlier this week and subsequently passed away. The news was shared by his daughter, Aubry Rodriguez, on Facebook. She said: “It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Johnny Rodriguez, who left us peacefully on May 9th, surrounded by family.”

She continued: “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. While the world has lost an extraordinary talent, we have lost someone irreplaceable – and we ask for privacy as we navigate this painful moment together.”

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