20 Facts About Johnny Rodriguez

Juan Raoul Davis "Johnny" Rodriguez was born on December 10,1951 and is an American country music singer.

Johnny Rodriguez is a Tejano and Texas country music singer, infusing his music with Latin sounds, and even singing verses of songs in Spanish.

Johnny Rodriguez was the second youngest in a family of 10 children living in a four-room house.

Johnny Rodriguez was the captain of his junior high school football team.

When Johnny Rodriguez was 16 years old, his father died of cancer, and his older brother, Andres, died in an automobile accident the following year.

Johnny Rodriguez sang frequently in his cell and was overheard by Texas Ranger Joaquin Jackson, who was impressed and told promoter "Happy" Shahan about him.

Shahan then hired Johnny Rodriguez to perform at his local tourist attraction called the Alamo Village.

Hall soon found work for Johnny Rodriguez fronting his band, as well as writing songs.

Johnny Rodriguez signed and began recording in their Nashville studio.

Johnny Rodriguez became the first well-known American of Mexican descent as a country singer.

In 1972, Johnny Rodriguez was voted the 'Most Promising Vocalist' by the Academy of Country Music.

Johnny Rodriguez was nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year by the CMA Awards.

However, Johnny Rodriguez was having personal problems, due to his drug addiction.

Johnny Rodriguez continued to tour around the country during this time.

Since 1998, Johnny Rodriguez has toured the United States and further afield including Switzerland, Poland, UK, South Korea, Canada, and Mexico.

Johnny Rodriguez has performed concerts at the Ryman Auditorium and Carnegie Hall.

Johnny Rodriguez continues to tour and record new material, performing dates in the United States and Canada.

On October 23,2010, Johnny Rodriguez received the Institute of Hispanic Culture Pioneer Award, in recognition of his accomplishment as the first major Hispanic singer in country music.

Johnny Rodriguez was first married to Linda Diann Patterson, a Southern Airways flight attendant from Conyers, Georgia.

Johnny Rodriguez's most recent marriage was to Debbie McNeely, a hair salon owner from San Marcos, Texas, in 1998, with whom he had a daughter, Aubry Rae Rodriguez born in April 1998.