VICENTE FERNÁNDEZ, the towering icon of Mexican ranchera music whose powerful voice defined the lives of generations of fans throughout Latin America, died Sunday morning in a hospital in Guadalajara, Mexico, his family confirms. He was 81 years old.

The cause was complications following surgery for a cervical spine injury after a bad fall last August. Fernández had remained hospitalized since then, in stable but serious condition.

Fernández’s death is not just a death. It’s also the end of an era of extraordinary Mexican music and legendary performers and composers — including Javier Solís, Pedro Infante, Antonio Aguilar, José Alfredo Jiménez, and Jorge Negrete — of which Fernández was the youngest. As a relentless touring and recording artist, Fernández has an output of over 50 albums and sits at No. 5 on Billboard’s Greatest Latin Artists of All Time chart and placed 15 albums, including six No. 1s, on the top 10 of Billboard’s top Latin Albums chart, more than any other regional Mexican act. He placed 61 songs on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, including 20 top 10s.

Fernández was also an actor who starred in over 30 films, emulating the careers of his hero Pedro Infante.

Fernández is survived by his wife and his four children: Vicente Jr., Alejandro, Gerardo, and daughter Alejandra Fernandez.

(SD-Agencies)