One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Tejano musician Fito Olivares dies at 75
Fito Olivares performs during the Cinco de Mayo celebration held at Rosedale Park on May 5, 2002 in San Antonio, Texas. Olivares, known for songs that were wedding and quinceañera mainstays including the hit "Juana La Cubana," died Friday. He was 75.
(
Edward A. Ornelas
/
The San Antonio Express-News via AP
)
HOUSTON — Tejano musician Fito Olivares, known for songs that were wedding and quinceañera mainstays including the hit "Juana La Cubana," died Friday. He was 75.
The noted saxophonist died in the morning at home in Houston, according to his wife, Griselda Olivares. She said he was diagnosed with cancer last year.
Born Rodolfo Olivares in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas on April 19, 1947, Fito Olivares started playing professionally in his teens. In 1980, he and his brothers formed Olivares y su Grupo La Pura Sabrosura and moved to Houston.
Other tunes he is known for include "Aguita de Melon," "El Chicle" and "El Colesterol." In addition to playing the saxophone, he also played accordion, wrote songs and occasionally sang, his wife said.
Griselda Olivares said the family was seeing a lot of support from fans on social media. "They played the music all over the world," she said.
Among those posting tributes was Ed Gonzalez, the sheriff for Harris County, where Houston is located.
"Rest in peace to a legend we all grew up with Fito Olivares," Gonzalez tweeted. "Thank you for the music."
Sponsored message
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. 9(MDA1OTI3MjQ5MDEyODUwMTE2MzM1YzNmZA004))
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
