Vicente Fernandez was “El Dolo” and “El Rey,” the monarch of Rancher music and Mexico’s national hero.
He enormously contributed to the music industry and produced nearly 50 albums, contributed to over 30 films. His passing on December 12, 2021, caused great sadness among many, yet his music continues to live on in people’s hearts.
Early Life Of Vicente
Vicente Fernandez was born on February 17, 1940, in the village of Huentitan El Alto, Jalisco, his father was a rancher, and his mother was a housewife.
His love for music started at the early age of 8 when he was gifted a guitar; he learned to play it alongside studying Folk music.
Vicente Fernandez’s family owns a rancher and used to sell cow milk; they were facing some financial difficulties, so after Vicente’s elementary education, they decided to move to Tijuana.
At Tijuana, Vicente started working at jobs, including as a painter, cabinetmaker, bricklayer, and construction worker, to bear expenses. His uncle later hired him as a cashier at his restaurant.
He participated in a singing contest in Guadalajara at the age of 14, winning first place. He had the confidence to begin performing at weddings and restaurants after that victory; he started to sing at weddings and restaurants and joined several groups like Mariachi Amanecer de Pepe and Mariachi de José Luis Aguilar.
His life took a turn over when he participated in a radio program called Amanecer Tapatío, his voice mesmerized people, and Vicente started to become famous locally.
He made his first television appearance when he was 21 years old at a show called La Calandria; It was his first paid performance.
Peak and Valleys of His Career
After his first show, he further started to work in his career, he at the age of 24 was chosen as a vocalist for two of Guadalajara’s top Mariachis, whom he joined when he used to perform for different events, Mariachi Amanecer de Pepe and Mariachi de José Luis Aguilar. He became familiar with Felipe Arriaga through his work with these organizations. He frequently performed around that time on the mariachi-themed radio show Amanecer Tapatio (Guadalajara Morning).
Later, his friends convinced him to move to Mexico City, the main hub and cultural capital.
He listened to his friend’s advice and moved on to Mexico in 1965, hoping to have a successful future in music, but his wish to flourish his career in music didn’t go as planned. His attempts with record companies remain unsuccessful because singer Javier Solis was prominent at that time.
Despite that, he never lost hope, and nonetheless, he started hanging out at CBS Studios in the hopes of getting an audition around CBS studios.
He finally managed to sign a program with the radio network XEX-AM, which was the most listened to on the radio at that time; working with XEX-AM brought him fame, and Vicente was known by nationwide audiences.
Albums And Films
Vicente’s life turned the tables when on April 19, 1966, Javier Solis, the popular rancher singer, died from complications followed by gallbladder surgery.
After his death, the record companies who turned down Vicente started calling him.
In 1966, Fernández received offers for his debut albums. He entered into his first recording deal with CBS México, the label of CBS Records International’s Mexican branch, and recorded albums for them, including “Tu Camino y El Mó,” “Perdóname,” and “Cantina del Barrio, “Soy de Abajo,” “Ni en Defensa Propia,” and “Palabra de Rey.”
“Tu Camino y El Mó” and “Perdóname,” two of Fernández’s compositions, were both commercially and hugely successful.
Vicente fernandez First Movie
Fernández made a foray into the film industry. Uno y Medio Contra el Mundo, his debut film, was released. He landed his first successful leading part in “La Ley del Monte” three years later. Fernández also had success with the movie’s theme song. His early 1970s albums El Rey, El Hijo del Pueblo, and Para Recordar were all hits. His objective was to create a body of work highlighting his expressive voice and characterizing contemporary mariachi music.
In 1976 Vicente had become a music icon; a different style of ranchera was written in 1976 by composer Fernando Z. Maldonado, a ranchera featuring a macho man who admits responsibility for a broken relationship. “Volver, Volver” became a ranchera anthem; it had a novel concept that touched a nerve.
The song was such a magical mix of lyrics and voice that it had broken all the sales records and was played at every party and in every household.
In 1987 Vicente Fernandez announced his first tour outside Mexico and USA; he traveled to Bolivia and Colombia for his first outside tour.
Vicente Fernandez Retirement
His legacy continued, and on February 8, 2012, in a press conference, he announced his retirement from the stage, but he will continue to record albums.
Together with his son Vicente Jr, he released the album Los 2 Vicente’s, which included the song of the telenovela Amor bravīo theme song, while on a farewell tour.
Vicente Fernandez Book
Fernández presented his book on November 28, 2013 “Pero sigo siendo el Rey,” in which he compiled tales and more than 200 previously released photos about his professional life.
Vicente Fernandez Longest Concert
His longest Farewell concert, titled “Un Azteca en el Azteca” (An Aztec in the Aztec), took place on April 16, 2016, at Estadio Azteca, where he performed live in front of more than 80,000 people and sang more than 40 songs for more than four hours. This was the longest Concert of his career, with a special guest Alejandro, his son.
He was down to earth and had a humble personality; he always used to say.
“As long as the public applauds me, I keep singing.”
Over the course of his 50-year career, he sold over 65 million records and produced more than 80 albums and 300 songs. He continued to produce music, including the albums Más romantico que Nunca (2018) and A mis 80s (2020), which won him his ninth Latin Grammy for best ranchera album in 2021.
Vicente Fernandez Wife
Fernandez married to Maria del Refugio Abarca on 27 December 1963.
Vicente Fernandez Family
The couple had three children together, namely
1- Alejandro Fernandez: Born on April 24, 1971, he is a singer just like his father, Vicente.
2- Jr. Vicente Fernandez: The singer’s oldest kid, Vicente Fernández Jr., was born in Mexico City on November 11, 1963. Vicente Jr., a Mexican singer like his brother Alejandro, has traveled with his father on a number of his musical tours.
3- Gerardo Fernandez: The eldest son of Vicente and a well-known businessman in Mexico is Gerardo Fernandez.
Alejandra Fernández:
Alejandra Fernándiz is the only daughter and the youngest child of Vicente. She isn’t the biological child of Vicente and was adopted by Gloria, Vicente’s sister-in-law. She is working as a designer, and Like her brothers, she has maintained a low profile, and little is known about her.
Vicente Fernandez Sisters
Vicente died on December 12, 2021, and fans often look for info on Vicente’s brother, but he does not have one. Vicente Fernandez has two sisters named Sister Maria del Refugio and Teresa. In addition, Vicente became the favorite child of his parents, sisters, and especially of his mother because he was the only boy in the family. Vicente had a very close bond with his sister, and they used to get along on special occasions like Christmas.
There isn’t much information regarding Vicente Fernandez’s siblings’ personal lives is available on the internet.
Vicente Fernendez Other Names
Vicente Fernandez, Fernández, Vicente Fernández Gómez, Chente, The king of ranchera music, Vicente Fernandez Gomez, El Rey de México, El rey de la canción ranchera, Vicente Fernández Gómez.
These are some names by which Vincent Fernandez knew and was famous around the globe.
Awards And Nominations
He won three Grammys Awards, fourteen Lo Nuestro Awards, eight Latin Grammy Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Additionally, he sold over 50 million copies worldwide and won the Best Ranchero Album Award for three consecutive years.
On October 6, 2019, Fernández inaugurated a statue made in his honor at the “Plaza de Los Mariachis” in Guadalajara.
Health Issues
Vicente Fernandez is a fighter who overcame a number of illnesses; he underwent liver tumor removal in 2012 after overcoming prostate cancer twice in 2002. In 2015, he had abdominal hernias removed, and in 2013, he had a thrombosis that temporarily silenced him. He continued to reject a liver transplant in 2012. In 2021, he was given a two-day hospital stay to treat a urinary tract infection when Guillain-Barré syndrome was identified.
Death Of A Legend
He fell at his Guadalajara property on August 6, 2021, and was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
He had some severe injuries, including cervical spinal, and was placed on a ventilator.While he was trying to recover from his injuries, he was diagnosed with Guillain -Barre Syndrome.
After his condition started to get better, he was taken out of the intensive care unit.
He was again admitted to the hospital on November 30, 2021, because of his health complications.
While battling his health issues, the legend Vicente Fernandez died at age 81 on 12-December 2021 in the early morning in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The Catholic memorial service was held the following day at the same venue. His most well-known ranchers were played between songs, and the ceremony concluded with “Volver Volver,” just as he had requested. His body was then taken to his ranch, where a tomb was built for him.
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