Died On This Date (August 7, 2010) Roberto Cantoral / Mexican Singer

Roberto Cantoral
June 7, 1935 – August 7, 2010

Roberto Cantoral was a Mexican singer-songwriter who, over the course of some 60 professional years, scored several hit records including “El Reloj” and “El Triste.” Many of his songs are considered standards of Spanish language music.  As a songwriter, it has been reported that upwards of 1000 artists have covered his songs.  That list includes Joan Baez, Linda Ronstadt, Luis Miguel, and Placido Domingo.  In later years, he composed music for popular telenovelas.  Roberto Cantoral was 75 when he died following a massive heart attack on a flight from Brownsville, Texas to Mexico City.  The plane made an emergency landing in Toluca, Mexico where he was pronounced dead.

What You Should Own

Esta Es Mi Historia, Vol. 1 - Los Tres Caballeros & Roberto Cantoral

Died On This Date (September 6, 2007) Luciano Pavarotti / Crossover Opera Legend

Luciano Pavarotti
October 12, 1935 – September 6, 2007

Luciano Pavarotti was an immensely popular operatic singer who successfully crossed over to pop music during the 1990s.  In the early part of the decade, he joined Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras to perform and record as The Three Tenors.  Their album together went on to become the biggest selling classical album in history.  Over the years he has sung with such pop acts as U2, Vanessa Williams and Mercedes Sosa.  He is the only opera singer to ever perform on Saturday Night Live.  Pavarotti was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer while in the midst of his “farewell tour” of 2006.  He died of the disease on September 6, 2007.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Pavarotti's Greatest Hits - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Luciano Pavarotti & Zubin Mehta