Introduction
Country music legend Johnny Rodriguez, one of the genre’s most groundbreaking voices and its first major Mexican American star, died Friday, May 9, in San Antonio at 73. His daughter, Aubry Rodriguez, confirmed his death in a social media post. The cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
In the days following the news, tributes have poured in from across the music industry, none more personal than that of fellow Texan and Country Music Hall of Famer George Strait, who credited Rodriguez with inspiring his own journey into country music.
“Norma and I are so sad about Johnny’s passing,” Strait wrote in a message shared to his official social media accounts. “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… that maybe there was hope for a guy like me. What a great talent he was. God bless his family, friends and fans. You’ll be missed, amigo.”
Rodriguez, born in Sabinal, Texas, in 1951, first rose to national prominence in the early 1970s and quickly became known for his blend of traditional honky-tonk country and subtle Latin influences. His first major hit, “Pass Me By (If You’re Only Passing Through),” arrived in 1972 and set the tone for a career that would span decades and include six No. 1 hits and 20 Top 10 singles on the Billboard country charts.
His best-known songs include “Ridin’ My Thumb to Mexico,” “You Always Come Back (to Hurting Me),” and “I Just Can’t Get Her Out of My Mind.” Though often grouped with other Tejano artists of the era, Rodriguez carved a unique lane with his rich tenor voice and deep roots in the Merle Haggard and Lefty Frizzell school of country storytelling. In 2007, he was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.
In a 2019 interview for Ken Burns’ Country Music documentary, Rodriguez reflected on his connection to the genre. “I was drawn to country music because I could relate more to what they were singing about,” he said. “It was the music of our people.”
Rodriguez’s influence has long been acknowledged by younger generations of artists, but Strait’s tribute is especially notable. Both men grew up in South Texas, and Strait has often cited Rodriguez as a source of encouragement during his early years. Their careers overlapped throughout the 1980s and 1990s, though Rodriguez’s mainstream visibility waned in later years.
In addition to his musical achievements, Rodriguez’s personal life included public struggles. In 1998, he was acquitted in the fatal shooting of a man he believed to be an intruder. He continued to perform and release new music in the years following, including the 2012 live album Live From Texas.
Rodriguez’s final years were spent close to his family and community in Texas, where he remained active as a performer and mentor to young musicians. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
For fans and fellow artists, George Strait’s message encapsulates the broader legacy Rodriguez leaves behind, not just as a country star but as a pioneer who opened doors that had long been closed.
“He gave hope to a guy like me,” Strait wrote. For many, he did the same.