The world is in mourning for the most legendary of legendary Mexican balladeers this morning. Vicente Fernandez died in a Guadalajara hospital at the age of 81 yesterday, leading to unbroken sonic memorials over airwaves, social media, car stereos, households, and even the sidewalks (including at Chente's star on Hollywood Boulevard where an angry white man shot a few holes through a cactus from a nearby apartment, possibly over the song-filled gathering). While words can't express the enormity of Fernandez's influence on Mexico and the world of entertainment at large, we've rounded up some of our favorite online tributes to El Charro de Huentitàn to help get the tears and tequila flowing.
Lalo Alcaraz
Big Boy, host of Big Boy's Neighborhood
Actress Salma Hayek
BReal: "Rest in peace to a king." Rapper Conejo and actor Mario Lopez both posted the same shot, with Lopez writing: "Vicente Fernandez was not just a singer. He was the voice of a culture who filled the households of many of us who grew up listening to his songs. His music is the soundtrack to a ton of memories. .. Damn, I’m sad… "
Boxer Oscar de la Hoya
TACO Madness winner Villas Tacos
Comedian Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias
L.A. Times columnist Gustavo Arellano
Rigo Jimenez, owner of Downtown's Eastern Projects Gallery
More Mexican Stuff via Cartoonistas
You can see many, many, many more brilliant and poignant Instagram tributes to Vicente Fernandez right here at the hashtag #chente.