He's sold over 50 million albums and his music is instantly recognizable around the world. He has been called El Rey de la Musica Ranchera, the King of Ranchera Music and El Idolo de Mexico, The Idol of Mexico. His oldest fans and friends know him as El Charro de Huentitan. He is Vicente Fernandez and he is Mexican music giant.
El Idolo was born in 1940 outside Guadalajara, Jalisco and grew up trying to sing and play the guitar like the ranchera singers he heard on the radio. He began his career singing at parks and bus stops buy quickly gained fame and fans. He has since starred in movies, been featured in television shows and performed on stages around the world, always wearing his trademark charro suit and sombrero. He's in the Latin Music Hall of Fame, has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has over 50 gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums. He's won 11 Grammy awards and there is no place on the planet that his music does not make people think of Mexico.
Vicente Fernandez is 80 years old now and even though he has retired from performing live, he still writes and records music. In his almost 60-year musical career, he has released over 50 albums and claims to have enough material to release another 30 more after he dies.
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize the most recognizable traditional Mexican singer the world has ever known, Vicente Fernandez.
