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June 20, 2007

Antonio Aguilar (1919-2007)

I was still half asleep when I got VivirLatino’s notice about Antonio Aguilar passing away last night after being in grave condition and battling pneumonia for a couple of weeks.

I didn’t cry then, but now as I read through Spanish-language newspapers online and search for YouTube videos, the tears are coming. Friends on MySpace are offering up bulletins sharing memories of seeing Antonio Aguilar perform at the Pico Rivera Sports Arena. Now the realization that Mexico and Mexicans everywhere have lost one of their greatest talents is really setting in. But I’m not crying about losing the singer and actor and charro. Sure, I grew up hearing his music and watching him on TV, but that sort of stuff is captured through technology.

Instead, Antonio Aguilar’s passing is affecting me because it makes me think of my grandfather, one of his big fans. The men have things in common too. Antonio Aguilar was born in 1919, Papá Chepe was born a year later. Both men are from Zacatecas. While Aguilar is a skilled charro, Papá Chepe just loves watching the rodeos. He gets upset if his doctors advise him not to travel to Zacatecas for the Fiestas de Abril.

I guess Antonio Aguilar’s death makes me think of my grandparents’ own mortality, and that hurts even more than losing a great entertainer.

Que descanse en paz.

More on Antonio Aguilar’s death:
La Jornada
Univision
La Opinión
ABC News (AP story)
LA Times

Filed under: Música, Mexico | POSTED BY cindylu AT 3:37 pm | 9 Comments

9 Responses to “Antonio Aguilar (1919-2007)”

  1. Sandra Says:
    June 20th, 2007 at 4:37 pm

    Viva Zacatecas! Y que Viva Antonio!

  2. Céz Says:
    June 20th, 2007 at 5:08 pm

    I heard about this around 6 a.m. this morning. I didn’t know what to think–sé nos fue un gran artista.

  3. Julissa Says:
    June 20th, 2007 at 6:04 pm

    I knew you would pay tribute to Antonio Aguilar!!! The man was a living legend. He will be remembered just like Pedro Infante and Jose Alfredo Jimenez. I honestly feel like I lost my family member - my other Abuelo! Just like you I grew up listening to his music and watching his movies. He will be truly missed. And what’s so exciting is that the rest of Latino America will see how proud the Zactecanos are of their Antonio!!

  4. Desert Chicano Says:
    June 20th, 2007 at 11:34 pm

    Yes, this man was a great legend. I remember watching him and his sons perform at the Sports arena in Pico Rivera in the late 80’s I was about 10 or 11 but I really enjoyed it. My first trip to Valparaiso, Zacatecas was where I first seen, what is now my favorite movie of his “El Humberto Quintero”. That was the best, I mean where else can you go to a cinema and enjoy a good torta and some churritos while watching a good flick?

    Que Descanse En Paz!

  5. EL CHAVO! Says:
    June 21st, 2007 at 12:28 pm

    That’s one of my favorite songs. I remember my grandma meeting Pepe Aguilar and she was so enamored, telling him how much she enjoyed his and his dads music. And I couldn’t care less, I was a punk, screw that old style music! Man was I dumb.

  6. Angelo Peña Says:
    June 21st, 2007 at 12:44 pm

    My grandmother was born in Zacatecas and I remember this music being played as kid. I think that we as Chicanos forget, rather, get too busy to realize the rich cultural landscape we come from. Nice blog and thanks for listing me!

    Adelante!
    Angelo Pena
    Fort Worth, TX

  7. Linda Says:
    June 22nd, 2007 at 9:18 pm

    was so sad to hear of Antonio passing away. My daddy use to take me to see all of his movies, and I fell in love with his singing, and I think I was even
    a little in love with the man himself. He was just such a positive person.
    Seems like another Icon has been taken away. I will miss him.

  8. Daniel Legarda Says:
    June 24th, 2007 at 4:53 pm

    I was very sad when I heard the news of Antonio Aguilars death. I remember as a child growing up listening his legendary music, my father is a very big fan of his. and with very good reason he was a mans man and he had one of the best voices ranchera music has ever heard .Thank God I was able to hear him and see some of his performances. There will never be another musician as gifted and talanted as he was. Rest in peace Antonio Aguilar.

    Daniel Legarda

  9. TacoSam Says:
    June 26th, 2007 at 9:43 am

    Yes, Mexico has lost a legend. One very nice thing was that he was married to the same woman for 47 years, the acress Flor Silvestre. Theirs was a great love. I heard on the news reports that after she got married, she never appeared in another movie without him. Don Antonio also agreed to never kiss another woman on the lips on screen. From what I have read and seen, Don Antonio seemed like a true family man, in the best sense of the word.

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