Johnny Rodriguez, the pioneering singer-songwriter widely regarded as the first Mexican American country star, has died. He was 73.His death on May 9 was confirmed in a social media post from his daughter Aubry Rodriguez.

The first popular Mexican American country artist, he was best known for the 1970s hits “I Just Can’t Get Her Out of My Mind” and “Ridin’ My Thumb to Mexico.”

Texas-born 1970s country music star Johnny Rodriguez has died at age 73. In Facebook post Friday night, his daughter Aubry Rodriguez said her family's announcement of Johnny Rodriguez's death was made with "profound sadness and heavy hearts.