Grammy winner Flaco Jimenez has died at the age of 86, his family has announced. The Tex Mex and Tejano music legend died on July 31 with his family around him. It comes just months after a “medical hurdle” left him hospitalised.
His family said in a statement: “It is with great sadness that we share tonight the loss of our father.” They added that he will be “missed immensely”.
The musician’s son Arturo told The San Antonio Express News that his last words were: “I’m tired.”
Flaco celebrated his 86th birthday earlier this year, just months after he’d been in hospital with a medical issue. Years earlier, in 2015, he’d had surgery for a broken hip.
(Image: WireImage)
He also suffered two rib fractures from another fall.
The star had a glittering career as a solo artist and as a member of the Texas Tornados and Los Super Seven. His career spanned a whopping seven decades.
During that time he released more than 20 albums and picked up countless awards.
That included six Grammys, five times in the Best Mexican-American/Tejano Music performance, and then a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.
He also rubbed shoulders with greats like Steven Spielberg and Spike Lee after being awarded a National Medal of Arts by the US Government.
(Image: WireImage)
Flaco was born Leonardo Jimenez in San Antonio, Texas in 1939, coming from a long line of musicians.
He started performing with his father Santiago Jimenez Sr at the age of seven, before starting recording as a member of Los Caporales at 15.
The star first played the bajo sexto – a Mexican string instrument in the guitar family – but would go on to pick up the accordion.
He picked up the nickname of Flaco, also his father’s nickname, which translates to “Skinny” in English.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
