Vicente "Chente" Fernández Gómez (born 17 February 1940) was a Mexican retired singer, actor, and film producer. Nicknamed "El Charro de Huentitán" (The Charro from Huentitán), "El Ídolo de México" (The Idol of Mexico), and "El Rey de la Música Ranchera" (The King of Ranchera Music), Fernández started his career as a busker, and has since become a cultural icon, recording more than 50 albums and contributing to more than 30 films. His repertoire consists of rancheras and other Mexican classics.He is accompanied live by a mariachi group, but he is not technically a mariachi musician, as he only sings live. Vicente's fame rose after the death of Javier Solís (El Rey del Bolero Ranchero). Fernández's work has earned him three Grammy Awards,[4] eight Latin Grammy Awards, fourteen Lo Nuestro Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has sold over 50 million copies worldwide, making him one of the best-selling regional Mexican artists of all time.[2] In 2016, Fernández retired from performing live, although he continues to record and publish music.
On 10 October 2012, a stretch of 26th Street (a street in a Hispanic neighborhood of Chicago called Little Village) was named in his honor. In 2015, Fernández was awarded his second Grammy Award for Best Regional Mexican Music Album (including Tejano) for the album Mano A Mano – Tangos A La Manera De Vicente Fernández. The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States. Fernández received three awards from thirteen nominations. Fernández was hospitalized in serious condition after falling at his home in Guadalajara on 6 August 2021. He was placed on a ventilator under the intensive care unit and had injured his cervical spine.
