Vicente Fernández

Vicente "Chente" Fernández Gómez (born 17 February 1940) is a Mexican retired singer, actor, and film producer. Nicknamed "El Rey de la Música Ranchera" (The King of Ranchera Music), Fernández started his career as a busker, and has since become a cultural icon, recording more than 50 albums and contributing to more than 30 films. His repertoire consists of rancheras and other Mexican classics. He is accompanied live by a mariachi group, but he is not technically a mariachi musician, as he only sings live. Vicente's fame rose after the death of Javier Solís (El Rey del Bolero Ranchero).

Vicente Fernández
Fernández at Pepsi Center on 11 June 2011.
Born
Vicente Fernández Gómez

(1940-02-17) 17 February 1940
Tepatitlan de Morelos, Jalisco, Mexico
Other namesEl Rey de la Música Ranchera
Occupation
  • Singer-songwriter
  • actor
  • film producer
Years active1965–2016, only retired from performing
Net worth$50 million
Children4, including Alejandro Fernández
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, trumpet, keyboard
Labels

Fernández's work has earned him three Grammy Awards,[1] eight Latin Grammy Awards, fourteen Lo Nuestro Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has sold over 50 million copies worldwide, making him one of the best-selling regional Mexican artists of all time.[2] In 2016, Fernández retired from performing live, although he continues to record and publish music.

Early life

Born on 17 February 1940[2] in the suburb of Huentitán El Alto in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Fernández spent his early years on his father Ramon's ranch on the outskirts of Guadalajara. He also worked at a young age as a waiter, dish washer, cashier, and finally manager of his uncle's restaurant. "Chente", as he was commonly known, became fond of the idyllic ranch lifestyle. His mother often took him to see the films of Pedro Infante; he has said of these films' significance: "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 8 he had taken up the guitar and was practicing singing in the style of the ranchera singers he heard on the radio. As a boy, Fernández sang at a festival in Arandas, Mexico where he won the contest. Later, at 12, he won 31 pesos in another contest. In 1954 he 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, Fernández's father lost the ranch and the family moved into the city of Tijuana. Fernández, who had dropped out of school in fifth grade, began working jobs in the city such as janitor, dishwasher, waiter and whatever else he could find, all the while holding to his musical aspirations.

In 1960, Fernández devoted himself to music full-time. He went back to Jalisco, where he performed as a busker and occasionally appeared on the television show La calandria musical. After a couple of years Fernández tried his luck in Mexico City, where he found a job singing in a restaurant called "El Amanacer Tapatío". When he wasn't working, he was auditioning -unsuccessfully— for record companies. Discouraged, he left around 1963 to marry María del Refugio "Cuca" Abarca Villasenor. They now have three sons: Vicente Jr., Gerardo, and Alejandro.[3] Vicente Jr was born 3 months premature in 1963; Fernández's mother died the same week.

Breakthrough

In the spring of 1966, Javier Solís, Mexico's most popular traditional singer, died. Discos CBS, the recording label in the Mexican department of CBS Records International, offered Fernández a recording contract. He released his first recording, "Perdóname", with the company in 1966; Fernández still records for the label, which is now Sony Music Latin of Sony Music Entertainment.

He branched into acting with the 1971 film Tacos al carbón. His first hit movie, for which he did the soundtrack, was 1974's La ley del monte. He stopped acting in 1991. Maintaining the ranchera tradition, Fernández always performs wearing the charro, an embroidered suit and sombrero.

In 1970, just as Fernández was about to go onstage, his father died. Overwhelmed by the news but determined not to let the crowd go without a show, Fernández went onstage and performed. By the end of the night the critics were comparing him to other famous ranchera artists like José Alfredo Jiménez, Jorge Negrete, and Javier Solís. Since then his music has expanded rapidly. In 1998, he continued to tour despite the kidnapping of his oldest son. (He was released 4 months later with a ransom of $3.2 million.)[4]

Fernández has recorded more than 50 albums in 35 years and claims to have recorded 300 more songs, 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, then returns for another marathon session of recording another 15 or more songs. From this accumulation, he and his producer choose 12 tracks. Fernández's greatest hit was "Volver, volver," released in 1972; 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. On 16 April 2016 Vicente Fernández performed for the last time in his career at Estadio Azteca effectively announcing his retirement.

Politics and controversies

Fernández has long been associated with the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), which governed Mexico from 1929 to 2000 and again between 2012 and 2018. Fernández was one of the many performers who participated in the "Solidaridad" campaign during the administration of Carlos Salinas de Gortari,[5] and has also performed at PRI rallies, attended PRI events or met with politicians from that party; on one occasion, he performed the song "Estos celos" for then-President Enrique Peña Nieto (a PRI member) during an official celebration.[6][7][8]

Fernández sparked controversy after some statements he made during an interview on May 2019 regarding his health. Fernández stated that he had been interned at a hospital in Houston, United States to undergo a liver surgery, but he decided to reject a transplant because he did not "want to sleep with [his] wife while having the liver of another man, who could have been a homosexual or a drug user".[9]

In January 2021, Fernández sparked another controversy after placing his hand on a fan's breast while taking a picture with her family.[10] A few days later, Fernández issued an apology to the woman's family, stating that "I admit that I was wrong, I don't know if I was joking, maybe it was a joke [...] I don't know. I do not remember, there were many people (with whom I took photos), I offer an apology with all my heart".[11]

Awards and nominations

Fernández wearing a black coat with yellow accents

In 1990, Fernández released the album Vicente Fernandez y las clásicas de José Alfredo Jiménez, a tribute to Mexico's famous songwriter from Guanajuato known as The "God of Ranchera Music" José Alfredo Jiménez, who is also his main musical influence. The album earned him Billboard and Univision's Latin Music Award for Mexican Regional Male Artist of the Year, which he won 5 times from 1989 to 1993.[12]

In 1998, Fernández was inducted into Billboard's Latin Music Hall of Fame.[13]

In 2002, the Latin Recording Academy recognized Fernández as Person of the Year. That year he celebrated his 35th anniversary in the entertainment industry, a career in which he has sold more than 50 million records and was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame.[14] He has 51 albums listed on the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for gold, platinum, and multiplatinum selling records. He also has his own star on the walk of fame in Hollywood, California; over 5,000 people attended his star-presentation ceremony, which is a record itself.

Fernández also has an arena in Guadalajara named in his honor, a star placed with his hand prints and name at the Paseo de las Luminarias in Mexico City. In 2010, Fernández was awarded his first Grammy Award for Best Regional Mexican Album for his record Necesito de Tí.[15]

On 10 October 2012, a stretch of 26th Street (a street in a Hispanic neighborhood of Chicago called Little Village) was named in his honor. In 2015, Fernández was awarded his second Grammy Award for Best Regional Mexican Music Album (including Tejano) for the album Mano A Mano – Tangos A La Manera De Vicente Fernández.[16]

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States. Fernández received three awards from thirteen nominations.[1]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1984 ...Es La Diferencia Best Mexican-American Performance[17] Nominated
1991 Las Clásicas de José Alfredo Jiménez Best Mexican-American Performance[18] Nominated
1994 Lástima Que Seas Ajena Best Mexican-American Album[19] Nominated
1995 Recordando a Los Panchos Best Mexican-American Performance, Vocal or Instrumental[20] Nominated
1997 Vicente Fernández y sus Canciones Best Mexican-American/Tejano Music Performance[21] Nominated
1999 Entre El Amor y Yo Best Mexican-American Music Performance[22] Nominated
2000 Vicente Fernández y los Más Grandes Éxitos de Los Dandys Best Mexican-American Music Performance[23] Nominated
2001 Lobo Herido Best Mexican-American Music Performance[24] Nominated
2002 Más Con el Número Uno Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album[25] Nominated
2008 Para Siempre Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album[26] Nominated
2010 Necesito de Tí Best Regional Mexican Album[27] Won
2015 Mano a Mano – Tangos a la Manera de Vicente Fernández Best Regional Mexican Music Album (including Tejano)[16] Won
2017 Un Azteca En El Azteca, Vol. 1 (En Vivo) Best Regional Mexican Music Album (including Tejano)[28] Won

^[I] Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.

Latin Grammy Awards

The Latin Grammy Awards are awarded annually by The Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences of the United States. Fernández received eight awards from fourteen nominations and also earned the Latin Recording Academy for Person of the Year.[29]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2000 Vicente Fernández y los Más Grandes Éxitos de Los Dandys Best Ranchero Album Nominated
2002 Más Con El Número Uno Won
2003 35 Aniversario – Lo Mejor de Lara Won
2004 En Vivo Juntos Por Ultima Vez (shared with Alejandro Fernández) Won
Se Me Hizo Tarde la Vida Nominated
2005 Vicente Fernández y Sus Corridos Consentidos Nominated
2007 La Tragedia del Vaquero Nominated
2008 Para Siempre Won
Album of the Year Nominated
2009 Primera Fila Best Ranchero Album Won
2010 Necesito de Ti Won
2011 El Hombre Que Más Te Amó Won
2013 Hoy Won
2014 Mano a Mano – Tangos a la Manera de Vicente Fernández Nominated[30]

^[I] Each year is linked to the article about the Latin Grammy Awards held that year.

Lo Nuestro Awards

The Lo Nuestro Awards is an awards show honoring the best of Latin music, presented by television network Univision. Fernández received fourteen awards from thirty three nominations.[31]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1989HimselfRegional Mexican ArtistWon
El CuatreroRegional Mexican Album of the YearNominated
"Dos Corazones" (shared with Vikki Carr)Regional Mexican Song of the YearNominated
1990HimselfRegional Mexican ArtistWon
Por Tu Maldito AmorRegional Mexican Album of the YearNominated
"Por Tu Maldito Amor"Regional Mexican Song of the YearWon
"Mujeres Divinas"Regional Mexican Song of the YearNominated
1991HimselfRegional Mexican ArtistWon
"Amor De Los Dos" (shared with Alejandro Fernández)Regional Mexican Song of the YearNominated
1992HimselfRegional Mexican Male Artist of the YearWon
Arriba el Norte y Arriba el Sur (shared with Ramón AyalaRegional Mexican Album of the YearNominated
"Que Sepan Todos"Regional Mexican Song of the YearNominated
1993HimselfRegional Mexican Male ArtistWon
Qué De Raro TieneRegional Mexican Album of the YearNominated
1996HimselfRegional Mexican Male ArtistNominated
Aunque Me Duela el AlmaRegional Mexican Album of the YearNominated
1998"Nos Estorbó la Ropa"Regional Mexican Song of the YearNominated
1999"Me Voy a Quitar de En Medio"Regional Mexican Song of the YearNominated
2000HimselfRegional Mexican Male ArtistNominated
2001HimselfRegional Mexican Male ArtistNominated
HimselfRanchera PerformanceNominated
Lobo HeridoRegional Mexican Album of the YearNominated
2002HimselfRegional Mexican Male ArtistNominated
HimselfRanchera PerformanceNominated
2003HimselfPeople's Internet Choice Award: Regional MexicanWon
2004HimselfRanchera PerformanceNominated
2005HimselfRanchera PerformanceNominated
2006HimselfRanchera PerformanceWon
2007HimselfRanchera PerformanceWon
2008HimselfRegional Mexican Male ArtistNominated
HimselfExcellence AwardWon
2009HimselfRegional Mexican Male ArtistWon
HimselfRanchera PerformanceWon
2010HimselfArtist of the YearNominated
HimselfRanchera PerformanceWon
HimselfRegional Mexican Male ArtistNominated
"El Último Beso"Regional Mexican Song of the YearNominated
2012HimselfRanchera PerformanceNominated
2013HimselfRanchera PerformanceNominated
2014HimselfRanchera PerformanceWon

^[I] Each year is linked to the article about the Lo Nuestro Awards held that year.

Discography

Vicente Fernandez has an extensive discography.

Filmography

  • 1991 – Mí Querido Viejo (My Dear Old Man)
  • 1990 – Por Tu Maldito Amor (For Your Damned Love)
  • 1987 – El Cuatrero (The Rustler)
  • 1987 – El Diablo, el Santo y el Tonto (The Devil, the Saint, and the Fool)
  • 1987 – El Macho (The Tough One)
  • 1987 – El Embustero (The Liar)
  • 1985 – Entre Compadres Te Veas (You Find Yourself Among Friends)
  • 1985 – Sinvergüenza Pero Honrado (Shameless But Honorable)
  • 1985 – Acorralado (Cornered)
  • 1985 – Matar o Morir (Kill or Die)
  • 1983 – Un Hombre Llamado el Diablo (A Man Called the Devil)
  • 1982 – Juan Charrasqueado & Gabino Barrera
  • 1981 – Una Pura y Dos Con Sal (One Pure and Two with Salt)
  • 1981 – El Sinverguenza (The Shameless One)
  • 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)
  • 1980 – Coyote and Bronca (The Coyote and the Problem)
  • 1979 – El Tahúr (The Gambler)
  • 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 Mountain)
  • 1974 – Entre Monjas Anda el Diablo (The Devil Walks Between Nuns)
  • 1974 – El Hijo del Pueblo (Son of the People)
  • 1973 – Tu Camino y el Mio (Your Road and Mine)
  • 1973 – Uno y Medio Contra el Mundo (One and a Half Against the World)
  • 1971 – Tacos Al Carbón (Grilled Tacos)

References

  1. "Vicente Fernandez". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  2. Jeff Tamarkin (Rovi Corporation). "Vicente Fernández – Biography". Billboard. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  3. "Vicente Fernández Biography". Sortmusic.com. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  4. News, Deseret (26 September 1998). "Kidnapping won't drive Fernandez from Mexico". Deseret News. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  5. "Solidaridad Official Song".
  6. "Vicente Fernández le canta a Peña Nieto 'Estos celos'". Vertigo Politico. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  7. "Meeting between a PRI candidate and Fernández". Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  8. Quiroz, Carlos. "omienza transformación de Jalisco: Aristóteles Sandoval". Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  9. "Vicente Fernández rechazó trasplante de hígado por temor a que fuera de un homosexual o drogadicto". El Universal. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  10. Daniel, Arzu (23 January 2021). "Silence Is Broken By A Fan Touching Vicente Fernandez's Breast". Amico Hoops. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  11. ""Acosar es que yo le haya bajado la blusa": así respondió Vicente Fernández al escándalo del video con su seguidora" ["Harassing is that I have lowered her blouse": this is how Vicente Fernández responded to the scandal of the video with his follower]. Infobae (in Spanish). 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  12. "Vicente Fernandez Biography". Musicianguide.com. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  13. Burr, Ramiro (25 July 1998). "Hats Off to the Music of Regional Mexican". Billboard. 110 (30): 49. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  14. "International Latin Music Hall of Fame Announces Inductees for 2002". 5 April 2002. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  15. "Vicente Fernández gana su primer Grammy anglo". Terra Networks Mexico. 31 January 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  16. Vulpo, Mike (8 February 2015). "2015 Grammy Award Winners: The Complete List". E!. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  17. "Complete List of the Nominees for 26th Annual Grammy Music Awards". Schenectady Gazette. The Daily Gazette Company. 9 January 1984. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  18. "List of Grammy nominations". Times-News. Hendersonville, North Carolina. 11 January 1991. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  19. "36th Grammy Awards – 1994". Rock on the Net. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  20. "The 37th Grammy Nominations". Los Angeles Times. 6 January 1995. p. 3. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  21. "The Complete List of Nominees". Los Angeles Times. 8 January 1997. p. 4. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  22. "Academy's Complete List of Nominees". Los Angeles Times. 6 January 1999. p. 4. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  23. "A Complete List of the Nominees". Los Angeles Times. 5 January 2000. p. 4. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  24. Boucher, Geoff (4 January 2001). "Grammys Cast a Wider Net Than Usual". Los Angeles Times. p. 4. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  25. "Complete List Of Grammy Nominees". CBS News. 4 January 2002. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  26. "Elizalde y K-Paz nominados al Grammy". Terra Networks (in Spanish). Telefónica. Associated Press. 6 December 2007. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  27. "Vicente Fernández gana su primer Grammy anglo". Terra Networks Mexico (in Spanish). Telefónica. 31 January 2010. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  28. "Here Is the Complete List of Nominees for the 2017 Grammys". Billboard. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  29. Latin Grammy Awards:
    • General Past Winners Search: "Past Winners Search". The Latin Grammys. The Latin Recording Academy. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  30. "The Full List of Nominations Latin Grammy". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Publishing Co. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  31. Lo Nuestro Awards:
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