Vicente Fernandez

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Biography

Vicente Fernández Gómez (born February 17, 1940) is a Mexican people|Mexican singer, producer and actor. Known as Chente or El rey de la canción ranchera (The king of ranchera music) throughout the Latin world, Vicente Fernández, who started his career singing for tips on the street, has become a cultural icon, recording more than 50 albums and contributing to many movies. He is the father of the popular singer Alejandro Fernández and Vicente Fernandez Jr.

Although less well known to English-speaking audiences, he has consistently filled stadiums and venues throughout his 35-plus years of performing. His repertoire is pure ranchera , a style described by the Miami Herald as representing "the Mexico of old & ndash; a way of life romanticized by rural ranches, revolution, and philandering caballeros ". He has sold over 65 million copies worldwide. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/bio/index.jsp? pid=24866

Early life

Born in Huentitán El Alto , Jalisco , Mexico, Fernandez spent the early years of his life on his father Ramon's ranch on the outskirts of Guadalajara . As a little boy Vicente also worked at a young age for his uncle as a waiter, dish washer, cashier, and finally the manager of his uncle's restaurant. He was known to all the people as "Chente". fdd the idyllic ranchera lifestyle was instilled in him. His mother often took him to see the films of Pedro Infante . Fernandez told of the significance of these films: "When I was 6 or 7, I would go see Pedro Infante's movies, and I would tell my mother, 'When I grow up, I'll be like him.'" By age eight he had taken up the guitar and was practicing his singing in the style of the ranchera singers he heard on the radio.

Early musical influences

As a boy he sang at a festival in Arandas , Mexico where he won the contest. Later in his life at the age of twenty-one he competed in a contest where he won thirty-one pesos. But In 1954, Fernandez won an amateur contest sponsored by a Guadalajara television station. It was his first break into performing and he began to play at local clubs and gatherings. Around this time, however, Fernandez's father lost the ranch and the family moved into the city of Tijuana . Fernandez, who had dropped out of school in the fifth grade, began working odd jobs in the city such as janitor, dishwasher, waiter & ndash; whatever he could find. All the while, he still held to his musical aspirations.

In 1960 Fernandez devoted himself to music full time. He went back to Jalisco , where he performed as a busker while also appearing occasionally on the television show La Calandria musical. After a couple of years Fernandez tried his luck in Mexico City , where he found a job singing in a restaurant called El Amanacer Tapatio. When he wasn't working he was auditioning for recording companies, and constantly being turned down.

The time Fernandez spent in Mexico City was discouraging. By 1963 he left to marry a former neighbor, Maria del Refugio "Cuca" Abarca Villasenor. They now have three sons: Vicente, Jr., Gerardo, y Alejandro. sortmusic.com The oldest, Vicente, Jr., was born three months premature in 1963; Fernandez's mother died within a week of Vicente, Jr.'s, birth.

Breakthrough

In 1966, in the spring of that year, Javier Solís , Mexico's most popular traditional singer, died. CBS Mexico , now Sony Discos , offered him a recording contract. He released his first recording, "Perdóname", with the company in 1966; Fernández still records for Sony Discos.

Fernández's career took off and has been nonstop ever since. He branched into acting with the film Tacos al Carbón , released in 1971. His first hit movie, for which he did the soundtrack, was La Ley del Monte , released in 1974. In the span of 20 years Fernández has acted, sung, and worked behind the scenes on more than 40 films. He stopped acting in 1991, feeling that he was too old to maintain the proper image for his movies.

Fernández was involved in a scandal where it was made public that he maintained a ten-year relationship with Patricia Rivera. Fernández met her while filming "El Arracadas" in 1977. Years later, she declared that her son Pablo Rodrigo was a product of their relationship, and Fernández gave him his last name; however, DNA tests have disproved this declaration.

Fernández works hard for his audiences and his performances are legendary. His adoring fans consistently pack the house, whatever the venue, from city squares to large arenas in the United States. He promises each audience that he'll sing until they are tired, making his concerts last from two and a half to four hours. Maintaining the ranchera tradition, Fernández always performs wearing the charro , an embroidered suit and sombrero.
His pride in tradition and dedication to his fans has led to him to perform when many other artists would have canceled. He still reminds his people and fans with his famous phrase His father died in 1970, just as Fernandez was about to go onstage. Overwhelmed by the tragic news but determined not to let the crowd go without a show, Fernandez went onstage and performed. By the end of the night the critics were comparing him to other famous ranchero artists like José Alfredo Jiménez , Jorge Negrete , and Javier Solís . Since that moment his music has expanded very rapidly. In 1998 Fernández continued to tour despite the kidnapping of his oldest son. (He was released four months later when ransom was paid.) Global Rhythm

Fernández has recorded more than 50 albums in 35 years and claims to have 300 more songs recorded, making another 30 albums possible even if he retires. When he records an album he spends 12–13 hours in the studio recording up to 18 songs. He takes a day off and then returns for another marathon session, recording another 15 or more songs. From those recordings, he and his producer choose 12. Fernández's greatest hit was "Volver, volver," released in 1976; his first million-selling album was 1983's 15 Grandes con el número uno . In 1987 he launched his first tour outside the United States and Mexico when he traveled to Bolivia and Colombia .

Awards

By the end of the 1980s Fernández had been famous for more than 22 years, yet he had never earned a major award and was beginning to think he would have to die before he was recognized. His patience was rewarded in 1990 when he released the album Vicente Fernandez y las clasicas de José Alfredo Jiménez , a tribute to Mexico's most famous songwriter, José Alfredo Jiménez . The album earned him Billboard and Univision's Latin Music Award for Mexican Regional Male Artist of the Year, which he won five times from 1989 to 1993. http://www.musicianguide.com/biographies/1608003638/Vicente-Fernandez.html

In 1994, Fernandez was nominated for a Best Mexican-American album grammy for his album Lastima Que Seas Ajena, but lost the award to Selena for her album Selena Live! .

In 2002 Fernandez was recognized by the Latin Recording Academy as Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year|Person of the Year . The same year he celebrated his thirty-fifth anniversary in the entertainment industry, a career in which he has sold more than 50 million records. He has 51 albums listed on the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) registry for gold, platinum, and multiplatinum selling records. With 35 years of experience under his belt, Fernandez has helped maintain a Mexican tradition that may very well pass away when he does. For someone who was told he'd be better off selling peanuts than singing professionally, Fernandez has made a tremendous impact on the music of his homeland. He also has a star placed with his name at the Hollywood Walk of Fame|walk of fame in Hollywood, California. Over five thousand people attended the ceremony when he got his star, which is a record in itself.

Fernandez also has an Arena VFG|arena in Guadalajara named in his honor. He also has had a star placed with his handprints and name at the Plaza de las Estrellas|Paseo de las Luminarias in Mexico City . In 2010, Fernández was awarded his first Grammy Award for Grammy Award for Best Regional Mexican Album|Best Regional Mexican Album for the album Necesito de Tí (album)|Necesito de Tí .

In 2011, production began on the The Man Who Shook The Hand of Vicente Fernandez, a narrative feature film that pays homage to Fernandez's enduring legacy.

Discography

2011 :

2010: El Hombre Que Mas Te Amó

2010: Un Mexicano en la México

2009: Necesito de Tí (album)|Necesito de Tí

2008: Primera Fila (Vicente Fernández album)|Primera Fila

2007: Para Siempre

2006: La Tragedia del Vaquero

2006: The Living Legend (Vicente Fernández album)|The Living Legend

2005: Y Sus Corridos Consentidos

2005: Mis Duetos

2004: Se Me Hizo Tarde La Vida

2002: En Vivo: Juntos Por Ultima Vez|Vicente y Alejandro Fernández En Vivo Juntos Por Última Vez

2002: Historia de un Idolo, Vol. II

2001: Más Con El Numero Uno

2000: Historia de un Idolo, Vol. 1

2000: Lobo Herido

1999: Y Los Mas Grandes Exitos De Los Dandys

1998: Entre El Amor Y Yo

1997: Estatua De Marfil

1996: Y Sus Canciones

1995: Aunque Me Duela El Alma

1994: Recordando A Los Panchos

1993: Lastima Que Seas Ajena

1992: Que de Raro Tiene

1991: El Charro Mexicano

1990: Y Las Clasicas De José Alfredo Jiménez

1990: Mientras Ustedes No Dejen De Aplaudir...

1989: Por Tu Maldito Amor

1988: Mujeres Divinas/El Cuatrero (same album but different titles and track listing)

1988: Lo Mejor De La Baraja Con El Rey

1987: Motivos Del Alma

1987: Dos Corazones (with Vikki Carr )

1986: Le Canta A America Latina

1986: Hoy Platiqué Con Mi Gallo

1985: De Un Rancho A Otro

1984: Un Mexicano En La Mexico

1984: 15 Nuevos Exitos Con El Idolo de Mexico

1983: 15 Grandes Con El Número 1

1982: Es La Diferencia

1981: El Numero Uno

1981: Alejandra y Los Valses Clásicos

1980: De Que Manera Te Olvido/El Tapatio (Same album but under two different names)

1979: El Tahúr

1978: Mi Amigo El Tordillo

1978: A Pesar De Todo

1977: Canta Para Recordar

1977: La Muerte De Un Gallero

1976: A Tu Salud

1975: Gusta Usted? Joyas Rancheras al Estilo de Vicente Fernandez

1974: El Hijo Del Pueblo

1973: El Idolo de Mexico

1973: Toda Una Ecopa

1972: Vicente Fernandez (Con La Misma Tijera)

1972: ¡Arriba Huentitán!

1972: Vicente Fernandez (Lo Siento Por Ti)

1971: Camino Inseguro

1970: Vicente Fernandez (Me Esta Esperando Maria)

1970: Ni En Defensa Propia

1969: Palabra de Rey

1968: Vicente Fernandez (El Remedio)

1967: La Voz Que Usted Esperaba

Filmography

1991 - Mí querido viejo ( My dear old man )

1990 - Por tu maldito amor ( For Your Damned Love )

1989 - El cuatrero ( The Rustler )

1988 - Entre Compadres Te Veas ( You Find Yourself Among Friends )

1987 - El Diablo, El Santo Y El Tonto ( The Devil, the Saint, and the Fool )

1986 - El Macho ( The Male One )

1985 - El Embustero ( The Liar )

1985 - Sinvergüenza pero honrado ( Shameless but Honorable )

1984 - Acorralado ( Cornered )

1984 - Matar O Morir ( Kill or Die )

1983 - Un hombre llamado el Diablo ( A Man Called the Devil )

1983 - Una Pura y Dos Con Sal ( One Pure and Two with Salt )

1983 - El Sinverguenza ( The Shameless One )

1982 - Juan Charrasqueado & Gabino Barrera

1981 - Todo un Hombre ( All a Man )

1980 - Como Mexico no Hay Dos ( Like Mexico there is no other )

1980 - Picardia Mexicana Numero Dos ( Mexican Rogueishness Number Two )

1979 - El Tahúr ( The Gambler )

1978 - El Coyote y la Bronca ( The Coyote and the Row )

1977 - Picardia Mexicana ( Mexican Rogueishness )

1977 - El Arracadas ( The Earringer )

1975 - Dios los Cria ( God Raises Them )

1974 - Juan Armenta el Repatriado ( Juan Armenta, The Repatriated One )

1974 - El Albañil ( The Bricklayer )

1974 - La Ley Del Monte ( The Law of the Woods )

1973 - Entre Monjas Anda El Diablo ( The Devil Walks Between Nuns )

1973 - El Hijo del Pueblo ( Son of the People )

1972 - Jalisco Nunca Pierde ( Jalisco Never Loses )

1971 - Tu Camino Y El Mio ( Your Road and Mine )

1971 - Uno Y Medio Contra El Mundo ( One and a Half Against the World )

1971 - Tacos Al Carbon ( Grilled Tacos )

Copyright Citations

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Vicente Fernandez Photo by: www.portalgrupero.com


1. Alejandro Fernandez

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