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in one of his many incarnations]] Born in Matamoros, Tamaulipas , he died a few days before his 59th birthday from diabetic complications leading to cardio-respiratory failure. Although raised in his native Matamoros, bordertown to Brownsville, Texas , United States , he got his start in Houston, Texas , in the early 1970s. His music, a blend of cumbia, tropical and Rock And Roll quickly gained him a large following. His first album ''Matamoros Querido'' (Beloved Matamoros) (1971) included the title song and "Lamento de Amor"(Lament of Love), both became hit singles. ''RIGO ES AMOR'' Through extensive radio play and touring both in the U.S.A. and Mexico he quickly achieved great popularity and wealth . At the height of his fame he was known as "El Ídolo de México" (Mexico's Idol) and "El Ídolo de las multitudes" (The Idol of the Masses). The release of the album ''Amor y Cumbia'' (Love and Cumbia) (1976) catapulted him to superstar status not only in Mexico but many other areas of Latin America as well as the United States. His adoring public coined the phrase "'' Rigo Es Amor ''" which literally means "Rigo is Love". This was attributed to the love songs he performed and the passion he poured into them. His music, voice and image were so endearing to so many that he became the living embodiment of love. It was routinely yelled out at his concerts and is still used when people speak of him. He authored among others hits like "Matamoros Querido" (Beloved Matamoros), "La Sirenita" (The Little Mermaid), "¡Oh, qué gusto de volverte a ver!" (Oh, how nice to see you again!) and "Perdóname mi amor por ser tan guapo" (Forgive me, my love, for being so handsome). He was most successful in the 1970's and 1980s and retired in the late 1990s but he and his songs remained popular, especially "La Sirenita" and "Matamoros Querido". His musical group was "Rigo Tovar's El Costa Azul" (The Blue Coast)"; the group went through several incarnations and is still active and plans several activities in his memory, some of them in the United States Of America . During his career he broke several attendance records in Latin America and Mexico(which still stand), sold over 30 million albums, and continues to influence countless artist in several Genre s. RIGO TOVAR "BIGGER THAN THE POPE" Rigo was easily recognizable by his long, wavy black hair, dark eyeglasses and signature jump at the end of his concerts. In 1979 he broke an attendance record in Monterrey , Mexico at the Santa Catarina River when four-hundred thousand people showed up to see him play a free concert. Local newspapers '' El Norte '' (The North) and ''El Sol'' (The Sun) ran the story which stated "Rigo Tovar broke previous attendance record held by Pope John Paul II ". The Pope had visited Monterrey earlier that year, and his attendance stood at three-hundred thousand. RIGO TOVAR MOVIE STAR Rigo also starred in several movies, ''Vivir Para Amar'' (Live to Love) (1980), ''Rigo es amor'' (Rigo is Love) (1980), ''El Gran triunfo'', (The Great Triumph) (1981) and one documentary on his success titled ''Rigo, una confesión total''(Rigo, a Total Confession) (1979). MUSICAL INFLUENCES His musical influences were diverse and included elements of cumbia, Ballads and Blues . His own musical idols influences included Elvis Presley , The Beatles , Pedro Infante , Ray Charles and Ozzy Osbourne . PERSONAL LIFE: FAME, FORTUNE, TRAGEDY AND CONTROVERSY His life was as full of but fans and some members of his large family entered by force, fortunately without further incidents. He was cremated and his ashes were thrown onto one of Matamoros beaches, according to his wishes. LEGACY AND REMEMBRANCE He appeared posthumously in a video for the Akwid song "Como, Cuando y Donde" later in 2005. The Akwid song samples his haunting jazz tinged interpretation of the song Quizás, Quizás, Quizás written by Osvaldo Farrés. The video shows his ghostly image from a television performance, he is wearing a white jumpsuit and he performs his famous trademark "jump". On the anniversary of his passing a statue of him was erected in Matamoros, Tamaulipas Mexico in his memory. It is on ''Rigo Tovar Street'' formerly ''La Primera de Mayo'', which was mentioned in several of his songs. Also a tribute album called ''Rigo es Amor'', {Link without Title} by several modern Mexican "rockeros" was released to coincide with the one year anniversary of his passing, a concert was held in Mexico City as well. His songs are continually covered by countless artist in several genres including Rock , Hip Hop , Techno , and Dance Music . His latest CD ''La Historia de un Idolo'' hit the Latin Billboard chart's top ten in 2005. DISCOGRAPHY
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