Country Singer Johnny Rodriguez

[TheBigA]

Country singer Johnny Rodriguez is dead at age 73

Johnny Rodriguez, Hispanic Country Music Star and “That’s the Way Love Goes” Singer, Dies at 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,” Rodriguez’s daughter, Aubry, shared on social media.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

Mexican American singer Johnny Rodriguez, whose 1970s country hits topped charts, dies at 73

Country music star Johnny Rodriguez has died at age 73. The popular Mexican American singer was best known for chart-topping hits in the 1970s.

apnews.com

 

[Loverofradio]

I was singing “riding my thumb to Mexico” all weekend out of nowhere and didn’t understand why. Very sad

 

[b-turner]

Johnny Rodriguez got his start through a guy named Happy Shahan, a rancher outside Brackettville, Texas. Yes, that's his real name.

Happy got a crazy idea that Hollywood needed to come to Brackettville to do movies. He constructed a movie set of The Alamo and frontier town. Then he went to Hollywood. And Hollywood came to him. Later he would take promising local talent and get the person shopped around with the record labels and producers.

On a personal level, Happy was a nice guy but one of only essential words. If the answer was a sentence, Happy said it in a word. On a humorous side, Happy did a Labor Day event at the ranch and placed a buy for radio ads each year. Since my father-in-law was friends with Happy I was aware of his 'telephone style'. You answer the phone, Happy says his first and last name. By this point you should know who he wants to talk with (maybe not at the radio station but certainly at the Moody Ranch you knew). He calls the radio station and our gung ho receptionist that just started say's 'Good Morning, Thank you for calling KDLK and KLKE.' It was so chipper and heartfelt you just loved hearing her say that. Happy simply says "Happy Shahan" to which our receptionist says "and a happy shahan to you too sir".

Happy brought Johnny to the forefront. He tried with a Seguin girl, Dottsy, who likely would have made it if Juice Newton didn't beat her to the punch on Dottsy's first single. Then there was a singer Happy marketed as Valentino.

Johnny had the talent and mental and physical strength to do the distance as a country star. He will be missed but not forgotten.