Johnny Rodriguez, the chart-topping Hispanic country music star and “That’s the Way Love Goes” singer, has died. He was 73.
Rodriguez’s daughter, Aubry Rodriguez, announced his death on social media on Friday.
“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,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “We are immensely grateful for the outpouring of love and support from fans, colleagues and friends during this time of grief.”
“While the world has lost an extraordinary talent, we have lost someone irreplaceable — and we ask for privacy as we navigate this painful moment together,” Aubry concluded.
Rodriguez was one of the first Hispanic country music stars, finding success at the beginning of his career after moving to Nashville at 21 and signing a deal with Mercury Records. His first single with the label, 1972’s “Pass Me By (If You’re Only Passing Through),” reached No. 9 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
His first No. 1 hit on the country charts arrived in 1973 with his track “You Always Come Back to Hurting Me,” with his song “Ridin’ My Thumb to Mexico” also reaching No. 1 later that year.
Rodriguez’s debut album, Introducing Johnny Rodriguez, became a No. 1 album on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart in 1973. That same year, he received the most promising vocalist honor at the Academy of Country Music Awards and was nominated for single record of the year for “Pass Me By.”
In total, he had six No. 1 tracks on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, including “That’s the Way Love Goes,” “I Just Can’t Get Her Out Out of My Mind,” “Just Get Up and Close the Door” and “Love Put a Song in My Heart.”
He later signed with Epic Records in 1979 and worked alongside producer Billy Sherrill. In 2007, he was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.
Survivors include his daughter, Aubry, whom Rodriguez shared with his ex-wife, Debbie McNeely.