José Pascual Antonio Aguilar Márquez Barraza (17 May 191919 June 2007), known as Antonio Aguilar, was a Mexican singer and actor. He recorded over 150 albums, which sold 25 million copies, and acted in more than 120 films. He was given the honorific nickname "''El Charro de México''" (Mexico's Horseman) because he is credited with popularizing the Mexican equestrian sport '' la charrería'' to international audiences. Aguilar began his career singing on Mexican radio station XEW in 1950. That year, he signed a contract with Mexican independent label Musart Records and became one of its best-selling artists. He made his acting debut with Pedro Infante in the drama '' Un rincón cerca del cielo'' (1952). After appearing in gentleman roles in several films, he achieved popularity as a film star with his performance as lawman Mauricio Rosales in a series of seven films in the mid-1950s. His success increased with his tours throughout

Latin America Latin America is the cultural region of the Americas where Romance languages are predominantly spoken, primarily Spanish language, Spanish and Portuguese language, Portuguese. Latin America is defined according to cultural identity, not geogr ...

and his studio albums, which included Mexican folk songs ('' rancheras'') and ballads (''

corrido The corrido (Spanish pronunciation: Help:IPA/Spanish, oˈriðo is a famous narrative metrical tale and poetry that forms a Ballad (music), ballad. The songs often feature topics such as oppression, history, daily life for criminals, the vaqu ...

s''). In the 1960s, he focused on producing and starring in films set in the

Mexican Revolution The Mexican Revolution () was an extended sequence of armed regional conflicts in Mexico from 20 November 1910 to 1 December 1920. It has been called "the defining event of modern Mexican history". It saw the destruction of the Federal Army, its ...

. In 1970, he won Latin ACE Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of

Emiliano Zapata Emiliano Zapata Salazar (; 8 August 1879 – 10 April 1919) was a Mexican revolutionary. He was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution of 1910–1920, the main leader of the people's revolution in the Mexican state of Morelos, and the insp ...

in the 1970 epic film of the same name. He also portrayed

Pancho Villa Francisco "Pancho" Villa ( , , ; born José Doroteo Arango Arámbula; 5 June 1878 – 20 July 1923) was a Mexican revolutionary and prominent figure in the Mexican Revolution. He was a key figure in the revolutionary movement that forced ...

twice in film. In 1997, Aguilar was awarded the Golden Ariel for his "invaluable contribution and spreading of Mexican cinema". To this day, he has been the only Hispanic artist to sell out the

Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as the Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh and Eighth Avenue (Manhattan), Eig ...

of New York City for six consecutive nights in 1997. His second wife was famous singer and actress Flor Silvestre. They had two sons, Antonio Aguilar Hijo, and Pepe Aguilar, who also became singers and actors. His family is known as "''la dinastía Aguilar''" (the Aguilar dynasty).

Early life

Aguilar was born in Villanueva, Zacatecas, the son of Jesús Aguilar Aguilar and Ángela Márquez Barraza Valle, both of Villanueva.

Career

Aguilar began his recording career in 1950, eventually making over 150 albums and selling more than 25 million records. He was known for his ''

s'', with some of his best known songs including "Gabino Barrera", "Caballo prieto azabache", "Albur de amor", and "Un puño de tierra". He was the first Mexican performer to mix

rodeo Rodeo () is a competitive equestrian sport that arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain and Mexico, expanding throughout the Americas and to other nations. It was originally based on the skills required of the working vaqu ...

s and concerts while touring his show in

and the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

.AP via ''The Guardian'', "Mexican Mariachi Singer Dies at 89", 19 June 2007
/ref> He began his acting career in 1952 during the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. In the 1950s, Aguilar was cast in a series of films centered on rural hero "Mauricio Rosales" in ''El rayo justiciero'' (1955), ''La barranca de muerte'' (1955), ''La sierra del terror'' (1956), ''La huella del chacal'' (1956), ''La pantera negra'' (1957), ''La guarida del buitre'' (1958), and ''Los muertos no hablan'' (1958). Seven low-budget ranchera films produced by Rosas Films S.A. Aguilar gained cinematic notice when cast in Ismael Rodríguez's ''Tierra de hombres'' in 1956. His other collaborations with Rodríguez include ''

La Cucaracha La Cucaracha (, "The Cockroach") is a popular folk song about a cockroach who cannot walk. The song's origins are Spanish, but it became popular in the 1910s during the Mexican Revolution. The modern song has been adapted using the Mexican genr ...

'' (1959) and '' Ánimas Trujano'' (1962), in which he received starring roles. Among his best ''ranchera'' films are '' Yo... el aventurero'' (1959), '' Caballo prieto azabache'' (1968), '' El ojo de vidrio'' (1969), and '' Valente Quintero'' (1973). Aguilar appeared in American

Western film The Western is a film genre defined by the American Film Institute as films which are "set in the American West that mbodythe spirit, the struggle, and the demise of the new frontier." Generally set in the American frontier between the Calif ...

s including 1969's '' The Undefeated'' starring

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne, was an American actor. Nicknamed "Duke", he became a Pop icon, popular icon through his starring roles in films which were produced during Hollywood' ...

Family

Awards and honors

Antonio Aguilar Equestrian Statue Los Angeles

In 2000, for his contributions to the recording industry, Aguilar was honored with a star on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a landmark which consists of 2,813 five-pointed terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in the Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood dist ...

at 7056

Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood Boulevard is a major east–west street in Los Angeles, California. It runs through the Hollywood, East Hollywood, Little Armenia, Thai Town, and Los Feliz districts. Its western terminus is at Sunset Plaza Drive in the Hollyw ...

. In the same year, he was the recipient of the Excellence Award at the 2000 Lo Nuestro Awards and the ASCAP Latin Heritage Award. In 2004, he was the presented with the

Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award The Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is an honor presented annually by the Latin Recording Academy, the same organization that distributes the Latin Grammy Awards, to commend performers "who have made contributions of outstanding artistic ...

. He was similarly honored with his handprints and star on the Paseo de las Luminarias in

Mexico City Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...

for his work in movies and in the recording industry.

References

External links

*
Antonio Aguilar's movies at ''TKcine''

Pepe Aguilar's website - Antonio Aguilar's son

Obituary
in the ''

Houston Chronicle The ''Houston Chronicle'' is the largest daily newspaper in Houston, Houston, Texas, United States. it is the third-largest newspaper by Sunday circulation in the United States, behind only ''The New York Times'' and the ''Los Angeles Times''. ...