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PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 30 SepteMber 2019

Legendary Mexican crooner José José dies from cancer

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexi- The artist's voice, a combi- was a great opera singer
can crooner José José, nation of baritone and lyric and died very young, with-
the elegant dresser who tenor, captivated audi- out knowledge of my suc-
moved audiences to tears ences while his dress style cess," José José told The
with melancholic love bal- of suits accented with bow Associated Press in a 2005
lads and was known as the ties, pocket handkerchiefs interview. "Since I inherited
"Prince of Song," has died and silk scarves was copied his voice, this is recognition
at the age of 71. at nightclubs across Latin of that inheritance."
Mexican artists' association America. José José got started in
ANDI confirmed the death "He squeezed our hearts music singing in cafes be-
in a Twitter post on Satur- with his unmistakable voice fore founding a rock group
day. Multiple media outlets and left an indelible mark called the Heart Breakers
said the singer had died on the world of music," Lat- that launched an unsuc-
of pancreatic cancer at a in music star Gloria Estefan cessful album in the mid-
hospital in South Florida. said on Twitter. 60s. His solo career took In this Feb. 21, 2008 file photo, Mexican singer Jose Jose poses
José José, whose real José José was born to a off with a single called "La for photographers backstage at the Premio Lo Nuestro Latin Mu-
name is José Rómulo Sosa family of musicians on Feb. nave del olvido" or "The sic Awards in Miami.
Ortiz, climbed to the top of 17, 1948 in Mexico City. His ship of the forgotten" and Associated Press
the Latin charts in the 1970s mother, Margarita Ortiz peaked in the 1980s with al-
with slow songs such as "El Pensado, was a concert bums like "Secrets," his best- had two children: José Joel The couple had a daugh-
Triste" or "The Sad Man," and pianist and his father was a selling collaboration with y Marisol. He hit bottom fol- ter, Sara, the following year.
"Amar y querer" or "Love tenor in the National Opera Spanish love song compos- lowing the separation and José José was nominated
and want." The power of of Mexico. er and producer Manuel began sleeping in a taxi on on multiple occasions for
his voice and ability to sing The singer added a sec- Alejandro. the outskirts of the Mexican a Grammy, but never ob-
technically difficult tunes in ond José to his artist's name He struggled with Lyme dis- capital. Friends intervened tained the prize. The Latin
a wide register made him in honor of his father, who ease, facial paralysis, sub- and took him to an addic- Recording Academy rec-
a treasured cultural icon in died when José José was stance abuse and depres- tion treatment center in the ognized the singer with a
Latin America. 17. The father had aban- sion. His problems with al- U.S. Musical Excellence Prize
José José's music also be- doned the family when cohol and drugs led to the The artist married again in at the 2004 Latin Grammy
came popular in countries José José was young. 1993 dissolution of his 18- 1995, to a Cuban-Ameri- awards. That same year, he
including Japan and Rus- "I wanted to honor the year marriage with model can named Sarita Salazar received a star on the Hol-
sia. memory of my father, who Anel Noreña, with whom he who he met while in rehab. lywood Walk of Fame.q