MEXICO CITY (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Rigo Tovar, the singer credited with fueling Mexico’s fascination with cumbia and “grupero” tropical music, died Sunday of a heart attack on March 27 at the age of 58.
Tovar was born on March 29, 1946, in the northern border city of Matamoros. He became known for his long hair and the dark glasses he wore because of a degenerative eye ailment. His first hit, “Matamoros Querido,” paid tribute to his hometown.
Tovar’s career reached its height in the 1970s with his group Costa Azul, later a solo career, and the song “Sirenita.”
He released his latest album, “Mis Consentidas,” on Fonovisa last December. –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers