Vicente Fernández, ‘El Charro de Huentitán’, ranchera music icon, passes away

Published December 13th, 2021

At the age of 81, Vicente Fernández, known as “El Rey de la música ranchera” (The King of Ranchera Music) has died.

The Mexican music legend died this December 12 at 6:15 a.m., his family confirmed in a statement on their social networks.

For two months, El “Charro de Huentitán” had been hospitalized in Guadalajara due to medical complications derived from a fall at his ranch, which occurred last August.

However, his illness became more and more complicated and this week a case of pneumonia returned him to intensive care where he passed away just as the sun was rising on December 12.

His death marks the end of an era of pure ranchero artists, a lineage that perhaps began with Tito Guizar, which was crowned with figures such as Jorge Negrete, José Alfredo Jiménez, Pedro Infante, Antonio Aguilar, and Vicente Fernández himself, who began his career in artistic caravans that toured extensively.

He recorded more than 100 albums and sold more than 60 million records throughout his career. He created an emporium through his voice, hard work, dedication, and struggle.

The years Chente faced them head-on, however, his health was not entirely good after having almost half of his liver removed due to a tumor, in 2012, a pulmonary thrombosis, in 2013, and the operation of three hernias, in 2015.

The farewell was at the Azteca stadium was one of the singer’s iconic moments where he performed 60 songs in front of 85 thousand people who paid zero pesos to enter the concert. It was free, why? He said it just before the end of that show:

“There is one thing that cannot be bought even with all the gold in the world and you have always given me that without me having to put a gun to your head: your presence, your affection, your respect, and your applause”.

El Charro de Huentitán was born on February 17, 1940 in the town of Huentitán El Alto.
Cuquita was his only wife, who stayed by his side along with his children to see him off.
Rest in peace the last of the kings of ranchera music who marked an era in folk music that went to all corners to show what Mexico is made of… pure feeling.

May the Charro de Huentitán rest in peace as he bids farewell on December 12, 2021, the day Mexico celebrates its patron saint La Guadalupana.