By Jason Brow, Parade | Without Johnny Rodriguez, would there be a George Strait? George certainly doesn’t think so. On Monday, George paid tribute to his fellow country legend, who died last week at the age of 73. In his sweet message, the “King of Country Music” thanked Johnny for paving the way.
“Norma [Straight, his wife] and I are so sad about Johnny’s passing,” wrote George on a May 12 Instagram Story. “He was an inspiration to me from the beginning.”
“Being from South Texas myself, it gave me so much hope knowing that he had become such a huge success,” continued George, “that maybe there was a hope for a guy like me.”
Juan Raoul Davis “Johnny” Rodriguez died on May 9. Growing up in Sabinal, Texas, Johnny helped bring the Tejano sound to the masses, infusing country music with Latin sounds. He hit it big in the 1970s and ‘80s with songs like “Pass Me By (If You’re Only Passing Through),” “I Just Can’t Get Her Out of My Mind,” and “Love Put a Song In My Heart.”
George, who hails from Pearsall, Texas, remembered Johnny as “a great talent,” before adding, “God bless his family, friends and fans. You’ll be missed, amigo.”
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Go here to read more of Mr. Strait’s tribute to Mr. Rodriguez:
https://parade.com/news/george-strait-mourns-the-passing-of-iconic-country-music-singer-73
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OTHER NOTABLE MUSICIANS’ DEATHS
Warning Signs of Suicide – National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or if you want to discuss, call the old numbers at 800-273-TALK or 800-273-8255 for English and 888-628-9454 for Spanish. Learn the signs of someone who may be contemplating suicide.
If you want to know more about any of the musicians we lost, please check them out at http://www.wikipedia.com
MAY
12: Ernst Mahle, 96, German-Brazilian composer and conductor.
11: John Edwards, 80, American Hall of Fame singer (The Spinners); Leila Negra, 95, German singer and actress (Münchhausen, The Star of Rio, Salto Mortale); Alena Veselá, 101, Czech organist and academic.
10: Mustafa Zaman Abbasi, 88, Bangladeshi musicologist; Matthew Best, 68, English conductor and singer; Kafon, 42, Tunisian rapper, heart attack; Larry Lee, 78, American musician (The Ozark Mountain Daredevils) and songwriter (“Jackie Blue”).
9: Nadja Abd el Farrag, 60, German reality television participant and singer, multiple organ failure; Stewart Francke, 66, American singer-songwriter, complications from a stroke; Johnny Rodriguez, 73, American country singer (“You Always Come Back (To Hurting Me)”, “Pass Me By (If You’re Only Passing Through)”).
8: Xatar, 43, Iranian-born German rapper.
7: Ronald Corp, 74, British composer, conductor and Anglican priest; DJ Hazel, 44, Polish DJ and music producer.
6: Luigi Lopez, 77, Italian singer and composer; Vakhtang Machavariani, 74, Georgian composer and conductor.