COUNTRY music pioneer Johnny Rodriguez has died at 73.
The Texas-born star had six number one hits – and 20 top 10s – in his heyday between 1973 and 1978.
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Rodriguez helped to define the genre of country music.
He was born in Texas in 1951, and in his early years was an alter boy and football team captain.
But his teenage years were racked by tragedy.
His father died from cancer when he was 16, and then his brother the following year in a car crash.
The trauma of these losses led him into trouble with the law – and country music.
Legend has it that in 1969, aged 18, Rodriguez was thrown in jail after he and his friends stole and barbecued a goat.
Others say that the spell in prison was simply punishment for an unpaid fine.
Either way, his singing from his jail cell was noticed by famous Texas ranger Joaquin Jackson, who went straight to his music promoter friend “Happy” Shahan to tell him about the young talent.
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