Vicente Fernández

Biography

Vicente Fernández Gómez (17 February 1940 – 12 December 2021) was a Mexican mariachi singer, actor, and film producer. Nicknamed "Chente" (short for Vicente), "El Charro de Huentitán" (The Charro from Huentitán), "El Ídolo de México" (The Idol of Mexico), and "El Rey de la Música Ranchera" (The King of Ranchera Music), Fernández started his career as a busker, and went on to become a cultural icon, having recorded more than 100 albums and contributing to more than 150 films. His repertoire consisted of rancheras and other Mexican classics such as waltzes.
Fernández's work earned him four Grammy Awards, nine Latin Grammy Awards, fourteen Lo Nuestro Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He sold over 50 million copies worldwide, making him one of the best-selling regional Mexican artists of all time. In 2016, Fernández retired from performing live, although he continued to record and publish music. In 2023, Rolling Stone named Fernández the greatest Mexican singer of all time and the 95th greatest overall with their "200 Greatest Singers of All Time" list.

Early life

Vicente Fernández was born on the 17 of February 1940 in the village of Huentitán El Alto, Jalisco, the son of a rancher and a housewife. When he was between 6 and 7 years old, he used to go with his mother to see movies starring Pedro Infante and Jorge Negrete and, as he himself once recalled, he told his mother that "when I grow up I'm going to be like them". Thereafter he had a taste for music and at the age of 8 he was given a guitar, which he learned to play at the same time he began to study folk music.
Fernández's family found it difficult to support themselves by selling milk from the cows on their ranch, so after Fernández finished elementary school, he and his family moved to Tijuana. Once a teenager, Fernández began working various jobs, including as a bricklayer, painter, and cabinetmaker. During his working day he sang, so many construction companies asked to have him as a worker. After these jobs he was hired to work as a cashier in his uncle's restaurant. At the age of 14 he started singing in restaurants and at weddings, joining several mariachi groups such as Mariachi Amanecer de Pepe Mendoza and Mariachi de José Luis Aguilar. It was then when, in Jalisco, he participated in the radio program Amanecer Tapatío, and began to be recognized locally. At the age of 21 he appeared on the television show La calandria musical. It was his first paid show.
On 27 December 1963 he married Maria del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor, with whom he had his first son, Vicente, who was born premature and had to be incubated at home because Fernández could not pay the hospital. That year, his 47-year-old mother died of cancer.
In 1965 he moved to Mexico City to seek a future in the world of music. His first attempts with the record companies were unsuccessful due to the popularity of singer Javier Solís. There he arranged to sing in a program of the radio network XEX-AM, which at that time was the most important in the country. A few days after the premature death of Solís in April 1966, Fernández received his first offers for albums. His first contract was with CBS Records of Mexico, the recording label in the Mexican department of CBS Records International, for whom he recorded albums such as Soy de Abajo, Ni en Defensa Propia×Ni en defensa propia1970 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracksA1Ni en defensa propiaA2Amor y olvidoA3Ay! amigoA4Buscame amorA5Caballo golondrinoA6MorenaB1Mares de tristezaB2Lo mejor de la vidaB3Ingrato amorB4Alma rotaB5Julia, and Palabra de rey×Palabra de Rey1969 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracksA1Palabra de Rey2:28A2Cuanto te debo2:45A3Vas a llorar3:01A4Sabor de mujer2:41A5A dónde vas que más valgas2:46A6Amor en sombras2:48B1Con una copa de vino2:23B2Cantando2:48B3Tu camino y el mío2:58B4Llévame contigo2:15B5Yo quiero ser2:56. Some of Fernández's songs such as "Tu Camino y El Mío" and "Perdóname" were very successful.

1970s and 1980s: Volver volver and Fernández's success

Fernández had to wait a decade to consolidate his career. With the death in 1973 of José Alfredo Jiménez, one of the great icons of rancheras, Fernández became a reference point in the music industry. His next album was La voz que estabas esperando and the following albums, titled El rey×El rey1974 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1Si Acaso Vuelves3:00A2El Rey2:34B1Hasta La Tumba2:10B2El Arracadas3:03, El hijo del pueblo×El hijo del pueblo1975 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Escuche las golondrinas3:16A2La primera caricia2:45A3La ley del monte2:52A4Campanas del olvido2:39A5No me hagas menos2:59B1Hasta la tumba2:34B2Dejo de quererme2:27B3Que triste estoy2:50B4Le pese a quien le pese3:13B5El hijo del pueblo2:41, and Para recordar, sold millions of copies.
In 1976, with the song Volver Volver, written in 1972 by Fernando Z. Maldonado, his fame was catapulted throughout the country and the American continent based on the sales of this recording. That song came to be covered by more than twenty singers, including Chavela Vargas, Ry Cooder, and Nana Mouskouri.
In the 1980s the style of Fernández's songs changed from bolero ranchero to a ranchera focused on migration. In fact, the song Los Mandados was a reference to those Mexicans migrating to the United States and reproduced macho and patriotic stereotypes. These were the years in which he built his ranch "Los 3 Potrillos", which would end up being his music production center. In 1983 he released his album 15 Grandes con el Numero Uno, which was the first to exceed one million copies sold. In 1984 he gave a concert at the Plaza de Toros México, which was attended by 54,000 people.
In 1987 he launched his first tour outside the United States and Mexico when he traveled to Bolivia and Colombia.

1990s: Fernández at his musical peak

The U.S. press in 1991 was already talking about Fernández as the "Mexican Sinatra" and he released ranchera classics such as Las clásicas de José Alfredo Jiménez (1990), Lástima que seas ajena (1993), Aunque me duela el alma (1995), Mujeres divinas, Acá entre nos, Me voy a quitar de en medio (1998), and La mentira (1998), which all became classics.
In 1998 his elder son Vicente Jr. was kidnapped by the "Mocha Dedos", who demanded 5 million dollars as ransom. After Fernández Sr. paid $3.2 million to free him Vicente Jr. was abandoned outside the family ranch 121 days later with two of his fingers having been amputated. Fernández did all this without going to the police; both he and his other son Alejandro continued to perform concerts to maintain the appearance of normalcy to the public. In 2008 the kidnappers were sentenced to 50 years in prison.

2001 and 2011: Later years

In 2001 he launched the Lazos Invencibles tour, together with his son Alejandro. In 2006 Vicente Fernandez released the album La tragedia del vaquero×La tragedia del vaquero21 November 2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1La tragedia del vaquero3:472El coyote2:443Al pie de un árbol3:124Ponle precio2:365Cuando te canses de llorar2:576Sufriendo a solas4:007Que chulada de mujer3:018¿Qué va a decir tu marido?2:249Salud3:0610La mitad de mi vida2:3411Quién dijera2:4912En cuerpo y alma2:4113Borracho se me olvida3:1214Lejos de mi tierra3:25, which was certified platinum in the United States.
He won a Latin Grammy again in 2008 with the album Para Siempre×Para siempre25 September 2007 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1La derrota3:172¿A quién vas a amar más que a mí?2:483Los cazahuates3:274Niña hechicera3:055Amor sin cuenta3:276Para siempre2:527Estos celos3:118Adorado tormento2:449El último beso2:5410Millón de primaveras2:5411El último en la fila3:2212El chofer2:18 which was released in 2007. In 2008 he released Primera Fila, which was certified double platinum in Mexico, platinum in Central America, platinum in Colombia, and double platinum plus gold in the United States. The album remained seven consecutive weeks at number one on Billboard, and led him to win another Latin Grammy for Best Ranchero Album.
The concert he performed at the Zócalo in Mexico City on 14 February 2009 broke attendance records, with almost 220,000 people gathered to hear him. That same year he released the album Necesito de ti×Necesito de ti7 July 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Estado civil2:532Para que me recuerdes2:523A puros besos3:164Tengo3:205Mala3:046Camino al cielo3:327Que Dios te pague2:298Necesito de ti3:049Me tienes mimado3:0310Tengo una amante3:4611Esa noche te olvidé2:2912Dueño del mundo3:1213Gracias2:54, which won a Grammy and a Latin Grammy the following year. In September 2010 the album El Hombre Que Más Te Amó×El hombre que más te amó2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 26 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Eres mi luz2:302Miedo2:433Regalo de Dios2:334Millones de gracias2:565Si estuvieras3:146Pídele perdón3:027Moño negro2:448Vete mañana2:449El hombre que más te amó3:1810Tu mirada3:2411Tengo que2:4512Con uñas y dientes2:3513Si vas a partir2:20Disc 21Eres mi luz2:302Miedo2:433Regalo de Dios2:334Millones de gracias2:565Si estuvieras3:146Pídele perdón3:027Moño negro2:448Vete mañana2:449El hombre que más te amó3:1810Tu mirada3:2411Tengo que2:4512Con uñas y dientes2:3513Si vas a partir2:20 was released, produced by Vicente himself, for which he won a Latin Grammy again. He released Otra vez, also produced by him, in November 2011.
After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Fernández was one of the 50 Latin singers who participated in the charity song "Somos El Mundo 25 Por Haiti", a cover version of "We Are the World".
Fernández started off the opening ceremony of the 2011 Pan American Games, hosted by Guadalajara, and sang "México Lindo y Querido" and "Guadalajara"; later in the ceremony he sang the Mexican national anthem before the parade of the athletes' delegations, while his son Alejandro closed the ceremony performing the games' theme song "El Mismo Sol". In October 2011, taking advantage of his U.S. tour, he signed a three-year agreement with Budweiser for the second time to promote scholarships for Hispanic American students through the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.

2012–2021: Retirement from stage

On 8 February 2012, he announced in a press conference, surprisingly, his intention to retire from the stage, but he specified that he would continue recording albums and that it was not for health reasons but because it was time to enjoy his work. Two months later, in the middle of a farewell tour throughout the country and Latin America, he released the album Los 2 Vicentes×Los 2 Vicentes24 April 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Sin papeles2:392Qué bonito milagro3:103Desde que tú te fuiste2:364Faltas tú2:245Pa' qué llorar2:216Serenata3:077Despiértame3:218Me llevarás en ti2:569Mi boleto2:3910A ella2:5711Sin ella2:3412La mejor de las mujeres2:5013Vamos a cuidarla más3:3414Cuando manda el corazón3:17, together with his son Vicente Jr.; the album included the theme song of the telenovela Amor bravío.
That same year he recorded, together with Tony Bennett, "Return to me" at his ranch in Guadalajara for Bennett's album Viva Duets, in which Bennett sang in Spanish. In a later interview, Bennett said that Fernández had been "his favorite". In 2012 he also released the album Hoy and won again a Latin Grammy Award in the 2013 edition. This was followed by the albums Mano a mano, tangos a la manera de Vicente Fernández, in 2014 (for which he won his second Grammy for Best Regional Mexican Album and was nominated for a Latin Grammy for Best Ranchera Album), and "Muriendo de amor×Muriendo de amor2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1No vuelvas por favor3:032La maldición del poeta2:583Prenda del alma3:434Si supieras3:095En las mismas circunstancias3:146Cien años2:547Ni poco ni nada3:098Pido2:569Te dejo todo2:3510Muriendo de amor3:0811Pero cómo le haré3:0312Quisiera saber (te quise olvidar)3:50", in 2015.
On 28 November 2013, Fernández presented his book entitled Pero sigo siendo el rey in which he collects anecdotes and more than two hundred unpublished photographs about his professional career.
The farewell concert, titled "Un azteca en el Azteca×Un azteca en el Azteca2 September 2016 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1No me sé rajar2:092Que te vaya bonito3:063Me voy a quitar de en medio3:024Si acaso vuelves3:085Cien años2:546Mujeres divinas3:187Lástima que seas ajena3:388Motivos3:299Nos estorbó la ropa2:3410El último beso3:0511La derrota3:3012Para siempre2:5413Un millón de primaveras2:1814Estos celos3:0915Paloma querida3:3116No volveré3:2517Mátalas3:0618Qué de raro tiene3:23" (An Aztec in the Aztec), took place on April 16, 2016, at the Estadio Azteca, in front of more than 80,000 people; admission was free. He sang more than 40 songs over more than four hours, the longest concert of his professional career. He only had one special guest, his son Alejandro. The concert was collected on an album, with the same name, for which Fernández won the Grammy Award for Best Regional Mexican Music Album in 2017.
Despite retiring from the stage, he continued recording albums and songs, such as the album Más romántico que nunca×Más romántico que nunca10 August 2018 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Chacha linda3:362Flores negras3:303Háblame3:224No me platiques más2:595Agua salada3:216Poquita fe2:597Ojos tristes3:018Rayito de sol3:269Nunca, nunca, nunca2:3610En la cárcel de tu adiós4:0711Los verdaderos hombres3:4212Mi último fracaso3:12Disc 21Chacha linda3:362Flores negras3:313Háblame3:214Agua salada3:205Poquita fe3:006Rayito de sol3:287Nunca, nunca, nunca2:378En la cárcel de tu adiós4:099Mi último fracaso3:14 in 2018 and A mis 80s in 2020, which earned him his ninth Latin Grammy Award for best ranchera album in 2021.
In his 50-year career he sold more than 65 million records and recorded more than 80 albums and more than 300 songs.

Acting career

Fernandez's debut in the movies was in 1971 with the film Tacos al carbón. He starred in his first film in La ley del monte in 1976. During the 20 years he dedicated to acting, he starred in 30 films, 18 of which were under the direction of Rafael Villaseñor Kuri, and shared the stage with nationally renowned actors such as Blanca Guerra, Sara García, Fernando Soto, Resortes, and Lucía Méndez. In films such as Por tu maldito amor, La ley del monte, El hijo del pueblo, and Mi querido viejo, he introduced his music, so the title of the film reflected the title of the song introduced. His main role was that of the stereotypical Mexican "macho" and "gallant" man.
As a film producer he debuted in 1974 with the film El hijo del pueblo. His last film was Mi querido viejo, in 1991, and thereafter he devoted himself exclusively to music.

Family

Fernández married María del Refugio Abarca "Cuquita" on 27 December 1963, the sister of a close friend of his whom he met in his hometown. Three children were born from the marriage, Vicente Jr., Gerardo, and Alejandro and a fourth, Alejandra, is his niece, whom they adopted. From their children they had 11 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Throughout his life he was accused by several persons of being unfaithful, which he always rejected. In addition to his biological children, he was also the godfather of Pedro Fernández.
With his sons Alejandro and Vicente Jr, both singers, Vicente went on stage to sing with them on several occasions. The last time he went on stage was to sing with his son Alejandro, and to promote the musical career of one of his grandsons, Alex, in 2019.
On the day of his death, his fortune was valued at $25 million.

Image

Fernandez was considered, along with Pedro Infante, Jorge Negrete and Javier Solis, the archetype of the Mexican male, which he somewhat downplayed by calling himself a "ranchman" (hombre de rancho). Nevertheless his commonly known stance of closeness to his audience also bolstered a feeling of endearment among many of his fans which continued until his death.

Health issues

Fernandez suffered from cancer on two occasions: in 2002 he overcame prostate cancer and in 2012 he had a tumor removed from his liver. In 2013 he suffered a thrombosis that caused him to lose his voice temporarily and in 2015 he underwent surgery to remove abdominal hernias. He had chosen to refuse a liver transplant in 2012. In 2021 he was admitted to the hospital for two days to be treated for a urinary tract infection and was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Politics

Fernández was long associated with the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), which governed Mexico from 1929 to 2000 and again between 2012 and 2018. Fernández was one of the many performers who participated in the "Solidaridad" campaign during the administration of Carlos Salinas de Gortari in the 1980s, and has also performed at PRI rallies, attended PRI events or met with politicians from that party; on one occasion, he performed the song "Estos celos" for then-President Enrique Peña Nieto (a PRI member) during an official celebration.
He was invited at the U.S. 2000 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia to sing the famous "Cielito lindo".
On 16 April 2016, at the end of his farewell concert, he cried out that he would "spit on" the then Republican Party primary candidate for the U.S. presidential election Donald Trump for his anti-immigrant rhetoric. Fernández, later that year, expressed his support for Hillary Clinton with a song titled "El Corrido de Hillary Clinton". Following the last debate between Clinton and Trump, Clinton invited Fernández to the celebration at the Craig Ranch Regional Park Amphitheater, Las Vegas, U.S.

Controversies

In January 2021, Fernández sparked controversy after placing his hand on a fan's breast while taking a picture with her family. A few days later, Fernández issued an apology to the woman's family, stating that "I admit that I was wrong, I don't know if I was joking, maybe it was a joke [...] I don't know. I do not remember, there were many people (with whom I took photos), sincerely I offer an apology".
In February 2021, Fernández was accused of sexual assault by a singer named Lupita Castro. Castro alleged that the incident had happened 40 years prior, when she was 17, and that she had kept her silence because of his influence and because of his threats of violence against her. Castro refused to go to court against Fernández.

Death

Fernández was hospitalized in serious condition after falling at his ranch in Guadalajara on 6 August 2021. He had injured his cervical spine and was placed on a ventilator under the intensive care unit. Two weeks later, he was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome and began treatment on 13 August. His son Vicente Jr. confirmed to the press that it was a disease that had nothing to do with the fall he suffered. On 26 October 2021, he left intensive care following an improvement in his clinical condition. On 30 November 2021, he was again admitted to intensive care following a complication of his health caused by pneumonia. On 11 December, his son again reported in an interview that his father was sedated due to a worsening of his condition.
Fernández died of complications from his injuries on 12 December 2021, at the age of 81. President of Mexico Andrés Manuel López Obrador mourned his death with a tweet in which he recognized Fernández as the "symbol of the ranchera song of our time, known and recognized in Mexico and abroad". The Colombian president, Iván Duque, said "his departure hurts us and his legacy will be alive forever", and the U.S President, Joe Biden, said that "the world of music has lost an icon". Also on Twitter, other leaders including the President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, the Mayor of Mexico City, Claudia Sheinbaum, the former President of Colombia Álvaro Uribe, and of Bolivia Evo Morales as well as numerous Mexican and Latin American entertainment personalities offered their condolences. Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recognized Fernandez as "a musical icon and a good man". He died on the day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patron saint of Mexico, to whom Fernández had a great devotion.
Fernández's body was transferred from the funeral home to the Arena VFG, which the artist had donated to his hometown of Guadalajara, where his family and at least six thousand fans were already waiting for him. Songs including "El Rey×El rey1974 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1Si Acaso Vuelves3:00A2El Rey2:34B1Hasta La Tumba2:10B2El Arracadas3:03" and "Acá Entre Nos" were performed by his Mariachi Azteca. There, the coffin with his remains was placed, in the middle of the stage that was turned into an altar with a large crucifix presiding over the scene and on one side an image of the Our Lady of Guadalupe accompanied the coffin. On the coffin, which was surrounded by a sea of white flowers, rested his favorite sombrero.
The following day, the Catholic funeral took place at the same arena. The ceremony was alternated by songs of his most famous rancheras and ended with "Volver Volver×Volver Volver1973 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Volver VolverA2Soy De AbajoA3Con Una Copa De VinoA4Me Esta Esperando MariaA5Ingrato AmorA6Ni En Defensa PropiaB1Tu Camino Y El MioB2Palabra De ReyB3Ay AmigoB4Con La Misma TijeraB5La MismaB6Con Golpes De Pecho", as he had wished, live. Afterwards, his body was taken to his ranch, where he was buried in a mausoleum.

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States. Fernández received four awards from fourteen nominations.

^[I] Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.

A Mis 80's

A Mis 80's is a 2022 Grammy Award-winning album under Best Regional Mexican Music Album category by Vicente Fernández.

Latin Grammy Awards

The Latin Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences of the United States. Fernández received eight awards from fourteen nominations and also earned the Latin Recording Academy for Person of the Year.

^[I] Each year is linked to the article about the Latin Grammy Awards held that year.

Lo Nuestro Awards

The Lo Nuestro Awards is an awards show honoring the best of Latin music, presented by television network Univision. Fernández received fourteen
awards from thirty-three nominations.

^[I] Each year is linked to the article about the Lo Nuestro Awards held that year.

Honours

Orden Libertadores y Libertadoras de Venezuela (Venezuela, 2012)