Legendary Mexican Singer José José Dead At 71
MEXICO CITY (CBSLA/AP) — Local media outlets are reporting that legendary Mexican crooner José José, known as the "Prince of Song," has died from pancreatic cancer. He was 71.
Multiple outlets said Saturday the singer known for sad love songs had died at a hospital in South Florida.
José José, whose real name is José Rómulo Sosa Ortiz, climbed to the top of the Latin charts in the 1970s slow ballads like "El Triste" or "The Sad Man," and "Almohada" or "Pillow." The power of his voice and ability to sing technically difficult tunes at a high register made him a treasured cultural icon in Latin America.
"From the beginning of his career, the interpreter of El Triste became one of the most beloved voices in Mexico," Mexico's Ministry of Culture said in a statement.
Desde la Secretaría de Cultura lamentamos el sensible fallecimiento del cantante José Rómulo Sosa, mejor conocido como José José o el príncipe de la canción. Desde los inicios de su carrera, el intérprete de El triste se convirtió en una de las voces más queridas de México. QEPD pic.twitter.com/YRVmEAtcoC
— Secretaría de Cultura (@cultura_mx) September 28, 2019
His music also became popular in non-speaking countries such as Japan and Russia.
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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