Tejano musician Fito Olivares dies at 75: NPR

HOUSTON — Musician Tejano Fito Olivares, known for his songs that were wedding and quinceañera mainstays, including the hit “Juana La Cubana,” died Friday. He was 75 years old.

Fito Olivares performs during the Cinco de Mayo celebration held at Rosedale Park on May 5, 2002 in San Antonio, Texas. Olivares, known for his songs that were marriage and quinceañera mainstays, including the hit “Juana La Cubana,” died on Friday. He was 75 years old.

Edward A. Ornelas/The San Antonio Express-News via AP

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Edward A. Ornelas/The San Antonio Express-News via AP

Fito Olivares performs during the Cinco de Mayo celebration held at Rosedale Park on May 5, 2002 in San Antonio, Texas. Olivares, known for his songs that were marriage and quinceañera mainstays, including the hit “Juana La Cubana,” died on Friday. He was 75 years old.

Edward A. Ornelas/The San Antonio Express-News via AP

The famous saxophonist died in the morning at his home in Houston, according to his wife, Griselda Olivares. She said he was diagnosed with cancer last year.

Born Rodolfo Olivares in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas on April 19, 1947, Fito Olivares began playing professionally as a teenager. In 1980, he and his brothers formed Olivares y su Grupo La Pura Sabrosura and moved to Houston.

Other tracks he is known for include “Aguita de Melon”, “El Chicle”, and “El Colesterol”. In addition to playing the saxophone, he also played the accordion, wrote songs and sang occasionally, his wife said.

Griselda Olivares said the family is getting a lot of support from fans on social media. “They played music all over the world,” she said.

Among those who posted tributes was Ed Gonzalez, the sheriff of Harris County, where Houston is located.

“Rest in peace for a legend we all grew up with with Fito Olivares”, Gonzalez tweeted. “Thanks for the music.”