Rigo Tovar
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Rigoberto Tovar García (March 29, 1946 – March 27, 2005), better known as Rigo Tovar, was a Mexican musician, singer and actor. Famous for his
cumbia Cumbia refers to a number of musical rhythms and folk dance traditions of Latin America, generally involving musical and cultural elements from American Indigenous peoples, enslaved Africans during colonial times, and Europeans. Examples include: ...
s, Tovar infused traditional Mexican and
Latin music Latin music (Portuguese language, Portuguese and es, música latina) is a term used by the music industry as a catch-all category for various styles of music from Ibero-America (including Music of Spain, Spain and Portuguese music, Portugal) ...
with modern instruments like the electric guitar and synthesizer and popular styles such as
rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
and
soul music Soul music is a popular music genre that originated in the African American community throughout the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It has its roots in African-American gospel music and rhythm and blues. Soul music became po ...
. Tovar was born and raised in Matamoros,
Tamaulipas Tamaulipas (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tamaulipas ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas), is a state in the northeast region of Mexico; one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Federal Entiti ...
. After moving to the neighborhood of
East End The East End of London, often referred to within the London area simply as the East End, is the historic core of wider East London, east of the Roman and medieval walls of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It does not have uni ...
in
Houston, Texas Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...
, his musical career began to take off in the early 1970s. Blending cumbia, tropical, and modern pop rock, he quickly gained a large following. In 1971, Tovar released his first album entitled ''
Matamoros Querido ''Matamoros Querido'' is the first album by Rigo Tovar. It was recorded in Houston, Texas. The cover photograph was taken in the museum district of Houston, in front of the Mecom Fountains. The album contains two of his most popular songs, "Mat ...
'' which garnered two hits, "Matamoros Querido" and "Lamento De Amor". During his career, Tovar broke several attendance records in
Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
and throughout
Latin America Latin America or * french: Amérique Latine, link=no * ht, Amerik Latin, link=no * pt, América Latina, link=no, name=a, sometimes referred to as LatAm is a large cultural region in the Americas where Romance languages — languages derived f ...
(many of which still stand to this day), sold over 30 million albums, and continues to influence countless artists of all genres.


Early career and success

Through extensive radio play and touring in Mexico and the United States, Tovar achieved great popularity and success. At the height of his fame, he was known as "El Ídolo de México" (Mexico's Idol) and "El Ídolo de las multitudes" (The Idol of the Masses). The release of the 1976 album, ''Amor y Cumbia'' catapulted him to superstar status not only in Mexico but many other areas of Latin America as well as the United States. His adoring public coined the phrase " Rigo es Amor" which is translated in English as "Rigo is Love". This was attributed to the love songs he performed and the passion he poured into them. His music, voice and image were so endearing to so many that he became the living embodiment of love. It was routinely yelled out at his concerts and is still used when people speak of him. Tovar's other hits include "La Sirenita", "Te tendré que olvidar", "¡Oh, Qué Gusto De Volverte A Ver!", and "Perdóname Mi Amor Por Ser Tan Guapo". He was most successful in the 1970s and 1980s and retired in the late 1990s; however, his music remains popular today. Tovar's musical group, El Conjunto Costa Azul, has gone through numerous line-up changes over the years and is still active today.


"Bigger Than The Pope"

In 1979, Tovar broke the 300,000-person attendance record set in
Monterrey Monterrey ( , ) is the capital and largest city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León, Mexico, and the third largest city in Mexico behind Guadalajara and Mexico City. Located at the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental, the city is anchor ...
,
Nuevo León Nuevo León () is a state in the northeast region of Mexico. The state was named after the New Kingdom of León, an administrative territory from the Viceroyalty of New Spain, itself was named after the historic Spanish Kingdom of León. With a ...
,
Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
earlier that year by
Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...
when the artist performed a free concert at the Santa Catarina River which drew 400,000 concertgoers. Some newspapers reporting on the new attendance record even ran headlines declaring that Tovar was "bigger than the Pope".


Movie roles

Tovar also starred in several movies including ''Vivir Para Amar'' (1980), ''Rigo Es Amor'' (1980), and ''El Gran Triunfo'' (1981).


Personal life

On March 27, 2005, just days shy of his 59th birthday, Tovar died from diabetic complications leading to cardio-respiratory failure. His funeral was held behind closed doors in a notable funeral home located in
Mexico City Mexico City ( es, link=no, Ciudad de México, ; abbr.: CDMX; Nahuatl: ''Altepetl Mexico'') is the capital and largest city of Mexico, and the most populous city in North America. One of the world's alpha cities, it is located in the Valley o ...
, but fans and some members of his large family entered the funeral service by force. Tovar was cremated and his ashes were thrown onto one of Matamoros' beaches per his wishes.


Legacy

In honor of his legacy, Tovar's hometown of Matamoros, Tamaulipas renamed a main avenue located in the northwest part of the city, Avenida Rigo Tovar.Milenio.com: Recuerdan a Rigo Tovar en Matamoros
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Discography


Select albums

*1972: ''
Matamoros Querido ''Matamoros Querido'' is the first album by Rigo Tovar. It was recorded in Houston, Texas. The cover photograph was taken in the museum district of Houston, in front of the Mecom Fountains. The album contains two of his most popular songs, "Mat ...
'' *1973: '' Cómo Será La Mujer'' *1974: '' En La Cumbre'' *1975: '' En Acción'' *1976: '' Te Quiero Dijiste... '' *1976: ''Rigo Tovar Y Su Conjunto Costa Azul'' *1976: '' Amor Y Cumbia'' *1977: '' Dos Tardes De Mi Vida'' *1978: '' ¡Oh, Qué Gusto De Volverte A Ver!'' *1979: ''Con Mariachi Vol. 1'' *1979: '' Reflexiona'' *1980: ''Rigo Tovar En Vivo'' *1980: ''Con Mariachi Vol. 2'' *1980: ''Rigo Rock'' *1981: ''Rigo '81'' *1982: ''10 Años Tropicalísimo'' *1982: ''Sublime Y Bohemio'' *1984: ''De Nuevo En Contacto Musical'' *1985: ''El Músico Chiflado'' *1986: ''Quítate La Máscara'' *1986: ''Con Mariachi Vol. 3'' *1989: ''Baila Mi Ritmo'' *1989: ''La Fiera'' *1989: ''Los Últimos Exitos De Rigo Tovar'' *1990: ''El Ritmo Del Sirenito'' *1990: ''El Sirenito'' *1993: ''Rigo El Guapo'' *1994: ''Éxitos Con Banda Vol 1'' *1994: ''Exitos Con Banda Vol 2 ''


Select compilations

*2003: ''Sigue Bailando Mi Ritmo'' *2005: ''La Historia De Un Ídolo'' *2006: ''Mi Tinajita Y Muchos Éxitos Más...''


Select singles

*"Matamoros Querido" *"Lamento De Amor" - Number-one hit in Mexico *"Recordando Monterrey" *"Enamorado De Verdad" *"Como Sera La Mujer" *"Pajarillo Montañero" *"Me Quiero Casar" *"El Testamento" *"La Sirenita" *"Amor Libre" *"¡Oh, Qué Gusto De Volverte A Ver!" *"Reflexiona" *"Mi Amiga, Mi Esposa y Mi Amante" *"Cuando Tu Cariño"


See also

* List of Mexican people


External links

* *
Houston Press The ''Houston Press'' is an online newspaper published in Houston, Texas, United States. It is headquartered in the Midtown area. It was also a weekly print newspaper until November 2017. The publication is supported entirely by advertising ...
Blog Articl
Rigo Tovar FansMuseum of Rigo Tovar in Internet


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tovar, Rigo Mexican songwriters Male songwriters People from Matamoros, Tamaulipas People with vitiligo 1946 births 2005 deaths Deaths from diabetes Musicians from Houston Latin music songwriters Blind artists 20th-century Mexican male singers