This day in Chicano History: Vicente Fernández (1940)
February 17, 1940: Vicente Fernández
Huentitán el Alto, Jalisco
I’m a day late again. I also know that Chente isn’t a Chicano. Still, like Juan Gabriel, I can’t pass up the opportunity to celebrate his birthday and note his status a cultural icon for many Chicanos, even the pochos.
How many of us have felt a little more connected to the motherland after hearing Chente’s rendition of “Volver, Volver” or “El Rey”? I know I have. I came to this music through the most mainstream of channels: Chente and Linda Ronstadt. Still, it inspired pride, especially as I learned that some of his most popular songs were written by my paisano, José Alfredo Jiménez.
He may not be the best singer of rancheras, but he’s definitely done his part to keep the music alive and attracting new fans.
Below, I’ve posted one of my favorite songs. What’s your favorite Chente song? Any great memories of seeing him live in concert?
The mark of whether someone considers themselves Chicano or mexicano: whether they prefer Chente or Antonio Aguilar…
“He may not be the best singers of rancheras…”
You serious? Chente has kept the ranchera genre alive for the last thirty years. When he’s gone rancheras are dead. He is the last great singer in a line of greats like Jorge Negrete, Pedro Infante, Javier Solis and Jose Alfredo Jimenez. One can argue that Antonio Aguilar belongs in this group but he belongs not with ranchera music, but rather tambora.
No Me Hagas Menos
Esta Tristeza Mia
La Primera Caricia
Que Triste Estoy
Aun Se Acuerda de Mi
Aca Entre Nos
Que de Raro Tiene
I’ve never really been a Chente fan. I went to a show once when I was little with my parents at the good ol’ Pico Rivera Sports Areana and I had a miserable time. In typical Chente fashion he asked the crowd if we wanted more. Everyone, except for me, replied “siiiiiiiiiiiiii”
Isn’t this the clown that closed out the RNC a decade ago? That’s one icon this Chicano can do without.
http://www.life.com/image/72351183
He may not be the best singer of rancheras, but he’s definitely done his part to keep the music alive and attracting new fans.
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Many people would want to see you boiling in a cauldron of hot menudo for that comment.
Vicente Fernandez was my first exposure to rancheras via my wife’s novelas. Many years ago he was the singer for the theme song of a Veronica Castro novela “Pueblo Chico, Infierno Grande.” It was so good that it hooked me on both ranchera and novela.