George Strait is mourning the loss of iconic country music singer Johnny Rodriguez

who passed away on May 9 at the age of 73. Rodriguez, known for blending Latin sounds into his country hits, was a pioneer in Texas country music and a huge inspiration for Strait. Some of Rodriguez’s notable hits include ¹ ²:

– “Pass Me By (If You’re Only Passing Through)”,

his debut single that reached the Top 10 in 1973

– “Ridin’ My Thumb to Mexico”, “Love Put a Song in My Heart”, and “Just Get Up and Close the Door”, his chart-topping hits

– “Desperado”, his cover of the Eagles’ classic, which reached the fifth spot on the Hot Country Songs chart

Strait shared a heartfelt tribute to Rodriguez on Instagram, saying, “Norma and I are so sad about Johnny’s passing. He was an inspiration to me from the beginning… What a great talent he was.” Strait credited Rodriguez with giving him hope for his own country music career, being from South Texas himself ¹ ².