Posted on 05/10/2025 1:26:01 PM PDT by Red Badger
Country-music star Johnny Rodriguez, a popular Mexican-American singer best known for chart-topping hits in the 1970s, including “I Just Can’t Get Her Out of My Mind,” “Ridin’ My Thumb to Mexico” and “That’s the Way Love Goes,” has died. He was 73.
Rodriguez died Friday, according to social media statements posted by his daughter, Aubry Rodriguez. She said he died peacefully and surrounded by family.
“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,” she wrote.
Rodriguez was named the most promising male vocalist at the 1972 Academy of Country Music Awards, and his debut album, “Introducing Johnny Rodriguez,” earned a nomination for album of the year in 1973.
Rodriguez was born in Sabinal, Texas, a small town about 60 miles (97 kilometers) west of San Antonio and about 90 miles (145 kilometers) east of the U.S.-Mexico border. He was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007.
The post Mexican-American singer Johnny Rodriguez, whose 1970s country hits topped charts, dies at 73 appeared first on Associated Press.
Never heard of him.
73 is the new 93.
RIP Music man.
Is he Freddy Fender? Because that’s the only Mexican-American country singer from the 1970s I remember.
He was big during the 1970’s. Excellent voice. Great tunes
Rest In Peace, Johnny.
A Mexican friend once told me you would never understand a song by Johnny Rodriguez unless you have been had by a Mexican woman.
Saw him perform with Tom T Hall
at the Pan-Am center in Las Cruces,
NM in 1972.
RIP Johnny...
He was born in Texas - that makes him an American, doesn’t it? He is certainly not “Mexican,” because he was not born in Mexico. Mexican by heritage, yes, but typically, if you say someone was “American,” that means they were either born here or have obtained American citizenship.
Just tired of all of these hyphenated labels...
Sounds faggotic.
That would be somebody elses thumb.................
He was a classic country singer from a time when country music was still country, but he had some hits that crossed over to the Billboard 100. His style reminds me of Merle Haggard and Marty Robbins.
His signature song is "Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico" (1973).
RIP. Great singer.
You’re right.
His daughter Carrie is pretty dang cool.
Rock Lobster was written by 2 gay guys, Fred Schneider and Ricky Wilson.
A different guy, but they did concerts together.
May he Rest In Peace, I love his music.
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