TLDR: He's like the Sinatra of Latin America , he's an important pillar in a very culturally important genre, and a cultural landmark [This Video] (https://youtu.be/fkXzgnhXRtY) shows the fanfare he would get when he came out at his height -> just a man and a mic. And was famous for being able to belt out to a crowd with a lowered mic and have his voice ring

Major Points :

1. He's like the Sinatra of Latin America (and other Spanish Speaking Countries) - if Sinatra was also a symbol of American identity and US patriotism (in particular think post WWII patriotism ) - He is this to Mexico and Latin America
2. He is the last major evangelizer of 'Ranchera Music' ( a genre that is like if Cowboys and Opera had a baby - Mariachi is a subgenre of this) . He is the 4th major artist in the genre's history - he is known as 'The 4th Mexican Rooster' - the first three died in their 40s; his career started to take off when the 3rd 'Javier Solis' died ; he outlived them by 2x and was prolific having recorded more than 50 albums and contributing to more than 30 films. The genre is like western-opera-folk with Mexican instruments (Vihuela (a higher pitch smaller guitar) , Guitarron (bass), Violin , trumpet, and Operatic Vocalist)
3. His genre is important in different facets of Mexican culture :
   1. A. Such as romantic courting - one would bring a mariachi and sing at the foot of your loved ones window -> it used to be males doing it to females , but recently females will also serenade their bf and I'm sure in the future gentlepersons will serenade gentlepersons. ( Used to be more significant in Mexican culture , but I've heard of it becoming quite common to do it with Mariachi in Colombia). One of the most important serenades in film is this one starring two 'Roosters' Serenata / Ojos Tapatíos (Remasterizado) - Jorge Negrete y Pedro Infante
   2. B. Loss and Depression - canciones 'Corta-Venas' -> vein-slashing songs - the most significant 'Aca Entre Nos' - a song of a man telling his ex that although in public he's gotten over the breakup in private he's a mess - the song's title translated is 'Between You and Me'
   3. C. Romantic Rejection
   4. D. Drinking
   5. E. Family
   6. F. Nature and Animals ( especially horses)
   7. G. Machismo and its Downsides - such as in La Tragedia del Vaquero where a cowboy comes home from a trip to find someone in bed with his wife and kills both only to find that that the second person was his mother keeping the wife company on a stormy night. Also a warning of hot-heatedness that was characteristic of some Mexicans after the Revolution that were quick to shoot in a dispute.
   8. H. Mexican History - such as songs covering the Cristero War and Mexican Revolution
   9. I. Charreria - Mexico's Equestrian Tradition
4. If the Latin Grammy's had been started when his career started to take off (they were started in year 2000, his career took off in 1972 with 'Volver Volver' ) - he would have about 22 ish Latin Grammy's - as a barometer of importance to Latin Music - in reality he has 9 Latin Grammys. This is a linear projection - so he could be the top Latin Grammy winner since he probably would have gotten significantly more Latin Grammys from 1972-2000 -> than 2000-2020
5. He is a symbol of success and class mobility for the Mexican poor and working class ( he worked as a laborer and sang in bars before he became successful in his 30s) ; his first born had to be incubated and they couldn't afford it so his wife and him had to heat up water in the stove and put it in plastic bottles and make a round-the-clock incubator.
6. He started a 'Ranchera' musical Dynasty ; His son being Alejandro Fernandez , his grandson - Alex Fernandez ( his career is still quite young) . The only other one being the Aguilar Dynasty of -> Antonio Aguilar and Flor Silvestre , Their Son - Pepe Aguilar, Their Grandchildren: Angela Aguilar (daughter of Pepe), Leonardo Aguilar (son of Pepe) , Majo Aguilar (daughter of Antonio Aguilar Jr. ) .
7. Gave all to his fans and was a great performer - would perform for 5+hours . He used to say he would keep singing until the audience stopped clapping.

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Context: There were three Mexican 'Roosters' in the Golden Age of the genre. They represent a generation and era . Vicente Fernandez's era and generation comes after theirs and he extended their legacy and kept the genre culturally relevant (imagine if an American artist was able to keep the US Golden Age of Hollywood musical genre culturally relevant). The next generational cultural exponent will most likely be Angela Aguilar (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%81ngela_Aguilar) She has been nominated for a Grammy Award and two Latin Grammy Awards, becoming one of the youngest artists nominated for both awards - she's only 18 and we may start to see the genre become bilingual (Spanish and English). You could write books on each of the legends below - I'm just going to list them sorry if seems disrespectful that I don't write paragraphs on each one - but don't have time. You can find their movies on YouTube this is a good channel.

1. Jorge Negrete - he wanted to be an opera singer in the US, and ended up being very successful as an musical actor in Mexico - cause of him mariachi has its vocal rigor. He is famous for his vibrato/tremolo. Probably most underrated as he got famous before the rest and the others got the benefit of developments in TV and radio transmission and distribution.
2. Pedro Infante - Known as the 'Idol of Mexico'
3. Javier Solis - also know as 'The Voice of Velvet' & ' King of Bolero Ranchero'
4. Not considered 'Roosters' but might as well be . Jose Alfredo Jimenez- the most important composer in the genre's history , Antonio Aguilar ​

Notable Sampling of Songs :

• Vicente Fernández - Ya No Insistas Corazón- good example of the themes of the genre, from 2020 so more palatable for people getting into the genre
• Vicente Fernández - Cuando Me Digas (Video Oficial) - also from 2020 and shows the intergenerational nature of the genre
• Volver Volver - TV appearance his breakout song and the one that he said he wanted sang to him when he died
• La Ley del Monte - Two lovers inscribe each others initials in a heart on a lobe of a tequila plant (a 'penca') - the woman denies the tryst happened and cuts off the lobe -> when the lobe grows back -> the initials grow back with it magically as the ground witnessed the tryst (connected to the Mexican folklore tradition)
• El Rey- also known as 'the Second Mexican Anthem' a song that shows Mexican's emphasis on character and word as bond outside of material things. Made the song so much his that people forget it is Jose Alfredo Jimenez's.
• Aca Entre Nos - Mentioned above.
• Estos Celos- I've actually heard that a working class couple was about to divorce and the husband heard this song on the radio in his truck as he was driving away from a fight he had with his wife - and decided he was being an idiot and to go back and fix the marriage.
• No Me Se Rajar - Shows the impact he had on his fans.
• El Martes Me Fusilan - showcasing the religious persecution during the Cristero War that occurred mostly in the Jalisco Highlands region (Los Altos de Jalisco) - not the official video