Spanish actress and singer Rocio Durcal, who found fame as one of Mexico’s most popular folk singers, died Saturday in Madrid following a long battle against cancer of the womb. She was 61.
Born Maria de los Angeles de las Heras Ortiz, Durcal became a star with a string of films in the 1960s and start of the 1970s, such as “Song of Youth” and “The Most Beautiful.” However, she made her big breakthrough in Latin America, and in particular Mexico, during the 1980s for her albums of Mexican folk-\ music known as ranchera.
Durcal was known as “the most Mexican Spaniard” and sold some 40 million records around the world, later recording duets with some the Latin world’s biggest stars, such as Julio Iglesias and Ricky Martin.
“I think I’m made of different stuff,” Durcal told the Spanish Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers after learning she had cancer five years ago. “One thing you can say is that I’m not frightened of anything.”
COPYRIGHT: (c) Reuters 2006. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news