Mexican tropical icon Rigo Tovar died of a heart attack March 27 in Mexico City. He was 59.
Tovar, who became wildly successful in the 1970s with his band Costa Azul, left behind a legacy of hit songs, including “Mi Matamoros Querido” and “La Sirenita.”
Known for his blend of norteño and tropical cumbia, Tovar established himself as a distinctive personality, thanks to his trademark long hair, dark glasses and a particular dance step where he jumped on one leg.
But since the 1980s, he was plagued by health problems, and at the time of his death had been retired from music for over a decade, although his previous labels, BMG and Fonovisa, still release his compilations.
Tovar was hospitalized for several weeks before his death. He is survived by his wife, Isabel Martinez, and six sons.