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Johnny Rodriguez, country star with hits like “Pass Me By (If You’re Only Passing Through)” and “Ridin’ My Thumb to Mexico,” died at the age of 73 on May 9. He entered hospice care earlier this week. His daughter, Aubry Rae, confirmed the news in a post on Instagram. “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,” Rae wrote in the caption. “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.” Rodriguez was considered one of the great 70s country music stars and one of the first mainstream Hispanic country acts, with six no. 1 hits and fifteen overall top 10 hit, all on the country charts.
His music was a perfect blend of country and Tejano/Mexican influence, largely inspired by his Hispanic upbringing in Texas. “I was drawn to country music because I could relate more to what they were singing about,” Rodriguez told Ken Burns in a PBS documentary on country music. “And also it was just like the music of our people. In Mexican music, you have stories. Mexican music and country music said almost the same thing, just in different languages.” His musical storytelling impacted not only the country charts but the White House. Throughout his career, Rodriguez was honored by three US presidents and later on, he received the Institute of Hispanic Culture Pioneer Award in 2010.
