He has long been hailed as a king.
Mexican superstar and horseman Vicente Fernández is known as “El Rey de la Ranchera” (The King of Ranchera music), but he wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth as is the case with most royalty.
His roots are far more humble. He was born to a poor family in Jalisco, Mexico. And is perhaps why the beloved singer and movie star is known as “Chente” by his down-home fans.
It’s a far cry from the majestic image in his charro outfit, giant sombrero and with holster and gun — or the Grammy awards and star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for that matter.
“You don’t have to tell me about poverty. I lived with it for a long time. That’s why I really identify with the less fortunate,” Fernández, 69, told the Arlington Heights Daily Herald.
“El Rey” rolls into the AT&T Center at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3.
Fernández, who’s riding high with the new hit album “Necesito de ti,” made his name with Mariachi Águila, which was led by José Luis Águila.
The handsome singer often referred to Aguilar as his guardian angel.
“Ranchera music is my life,” Fernández said in the same interview. “It’s the oxygen that I need.”
One of his signature songs — songwriter Jose Alfredo Jimenez’s “El Rey” — was recently covered by another kingly figure, country music legend George Strait.
The Denver Post calls Fernández the last of a dying breed.
“His voice and persona represent a Mexico that idolizes the working class of Mexico where his music would drive you to the nearest liquor cabinet in hopes of finding the smoothest añejo you can find,” wrote Denver Post contributor Jose Enriquez after a July concert.
That night the ageless wonder played for three hours, drawing from a 50-album catalog.
Enriquez reported that Fernández still loves the applause: “I don’t stop singing until you stop applauding,” Fernández told the Pepsi Center audience.
Onstage, he is emotional and even tearful. And always grito-worthy.
“Vicente’s presence commanded an immediate and thunderous applause. His music is identified with many fans because of his humble upbringings of playing on the streets and coming up from nothing to be known as the native son of Mexico,” the review continued.
For ticket information visit ticketmaster.com.
