The 'El Triste' singer passed away on Saturday.
José José, legendary Mexican singer, has died. He was 71.
The music icon -- whose real name was José Rómulo Sosa Ortiz -- died on Saturday in Miami, Florida. His assistant, Laura Núñez, confirmed his death to multiple outlets.
In 2017, the singer revealed that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
"I want to be the one to inform you guys what is happening in my life and career, like I have been doing all my life," he said in Spanish at the time. He shared that he would be receiving chemotherapy to remove the tumor. "I want to you to know that aside from the small tumor, I am well. I am ready to take on this new adventure in my life."
Born on Feb. 17, 1948, José José began singing and playing the guitar at 15. In 1969 he released his first album, José José, which included hits like "Pero te extraño," "Cuidado," "Una Mañana," and "Agua Con Sal."
The following year he released his second album La Nave del Olvido. He became a household name in 1971 after winning over audiences for his rendition of Roberto Cantoral’s song “El Triste” at a renowned music festival in Mexico.
Over the course of his career that spanned five decades, he sold over 120 million records which made him one of the most successful Latin American singers in history. Many called him “el Príncipe de la Canción” (Prince of the Song) and without a doubt was one of the most beloved figures in Mexican music.
His talent also led him to dabble in television and film, where he starred in 14 films like Perdóname Todo and Sabor a mí. In 2004, José José received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7036 Hollywood Blvd.
Following the news of his death, friends and fans took to social media to share their condolences.
Gloria Trevi took to Instagram on Saturday to share a video, which was captioned, “Mexico cries but also sings today.”
“We’re going to miss him dearly,” she said in the video. “His voice will remain forever. He is immortal.”
"I'm saddened over the loss of José José," Juanes said on Instagram. "Without a doubt, one of the greats in music, his voice will sound forever in our hearts. Rest in peace."
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