‘King of Bolero’ Lucho Gatica dies

Lucho Gatica, the Chilean singer known as the ‘King of Bolero’ has died at the age of 90.
The suave crooner, who was also dubbed the South American Frank Sinatra, passed away in Mexico City, where he lived, on Tuesday (13Nov18), according to Spanish newspaper El Pais. The cause of the Latin music legend’s death has not been announced.
His son, the Mexican actor Luis Gatica, appeared to confirm his father’s death by posting an image of a black remembrance ribbon Instagram with the caption, “Buen viaje! Te amo… (Good trip! I love you).”
The musician, full name Luis Enrique Gatica Silva, found fame in his homeland and across Latin America in the early 1950s with hits like Me Importas Tu, Contigo en la Distancia, and Besame Mucho.
He moved to Mexico in 1957 and married Puerto Rican actress Mapita Cortes – converting fans to bolero music – a slower tempo genre of Latin music that originated in Cuba in the 19th century. He was also popular among Latin American communities in the U.S. and has been honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Latin Grammys.
In 2013 he teamed up with the likes of Nelly Furtado and Luis Fonsi to record a tribute album, Hístoria de un Amor, while Christina Aguilera has also recorded her own version of Contigo en la Distancia, a popular bolero standard.
Lucho is survived by seven children from three marriages and 11 grandchildren.