Emilio Navaira, a Tejano superstar who crossed over into country music in the 1990s, died Monday, May 16. He was 53.
Emilio was born in San Antonio, Texas, on Aug. 23, 1962. His singles for Capitol Nashville included “It’s Not the End of the World,” which reached No. 27 on the country singles chart in 1995.
Although he charted five more singles for the label, none of them entered the Top 40. However he maintained a major presence in Tejano music for the remainder of his career.
Lamentamos el fallecimiento del cantante Emilio Navaira Q.E.P.D. (1962 – 2016) pic.twitter.com/djZXoalM0l
— Emilio Navaira (@EmilioNavaira) May 17, 2016
Navaira’s son, Diego Navaira, is a member of the Warner Music Nashville group The Last Bandoleros.
Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy, stated, “Possessing one of the greatest voices in the history of Tejano music, Emilio Navaira was an icon in the genre. Both a Grammy and a Latin Grammy Award winner, he showcased his strong Texas roots in everything he did. From his relentless touring schedule to his impressive lyrics and signature sound, Emilio was beloved by many, and helped to shape an entire genre of music. Our creative community has lost a uniquely gifted talent, and our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and all those who had the privilege and honor of working with him. He will be missed.”
