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Johnny Rodriguez, Pioneering Hispanic Country Singer, Dies at 73

Johnny Rodriguez, one of country music's first Hispanic stars, has died. He was 73.

Johnny Rodriguez, one of country music’s first Hispanic stars and known for 1970s hits “Ridin’ My Thumb to Mexico” and “That’s the Way Love Goes,” has died at the age of 73. “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. After putting out more than a dozen records with Mercury, he signed to Epic in 1979, where he found moderate success through the 1980s and worked with producer Billy Sherrill.

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