Prolific Mexican Singer Armando Manzanero Succumbs To COVID-19

Mexican singer-songwriter Armando Manzanero died Monday of complications caused by COVID-19. He was 85.

The renowned musician tested positive for the life-threatening illness on Dec. 17 and was intubated five days later, El Universal first reported. Citing the medical report, the publication noted that Manzanero was starting to feel stable and even answered the messages he received after his hospitalization.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador mourned the loss of the national icon, saying that he was the “best” music composer of the country and a very “sensible man,” People reported.

Harvey Mason Jr., interim president and CEO of the Recording Academy, and Gabriel Abaroa Jr., president and CEO of the Latin Recording Academy, released a statement following Manzanero’s death, saying that his passing is a “great loss” for the global music industry, per Deadline.

“Manzanero was a Latin Grammy winner and the recipient of Lifetime Achievement Awards from both The Latin Recording Academy and the Recording Academy. Most importantly, he was a great friend and supporter of the Latin Academy. He will be greatly missed, but his melodies and larger-than-life personality will live on forever,” the statement said.

Mexico’s Society of Authors and Composers also shared the news of Manzanero’s death on its official Twitter account and described him as the “romantic soul of Mexico.”

“He was one of the greatest artists of our time, creator of the most beautiful music of the world,” the organization wrote.

A plethora of musicians took to social media and paid tribute to the legendary artist.

Singer-songwriter Marc Anthony called Manzanero his “teacher” and said that he inspired a generation of musicians with his soulful tunes. He concluded his message by expressing gratitude toward the late singer for all that he did for music.

“The maestro Armando Manzanero left us today. A person with a ginormous talent, an admirable man who with his music and songwriting inspired so many of us. In the midst of the sadness for his passing, I'm thankful for the blessing of his musical legacy. Thank you for so much, maestro,” Anthony tweeted.

Maluma uploaded a video of the two meeting and wrote that one of his “biggest inspirations” passed away.

“I'll keep this memory forever. Today, one of my biggest inspirations died. Sending greetings to his family members. I'm with you from afar,” Maluma wrote on Instagram.

Manzanero started his professional music journey in 1950 when he composed his first melody, titled “Nunca en el Mundo.” However, he did not record his first album until 1959. The musician produced more than 25 albums during his career and won numerous awards.

He received Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011 as well as the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.

Read on for more meaningful tributes from the Latin community.