New Mexico has lost one of its most influential musical legends. Al Hurricane, the man known as "The Godfather of New Mexican Music" died on Oct. 22. Hurricane was 81 years old.
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According to Billboard, Hurricane's son revealed that his father's death was caused by complications related to a long battle with prostate cancer. Two years ago, Hurricane embarked on a farewell tour after announcing he had Stage 4 prostate cancer and kept performing through chemotherapy treatment.
Born in 1936 in Dixon, N.M., Hurricane's musical career began with performances in restaurants in Old Town Albuquerque. He released his first recordings in 1962 with his band, Al Hurricane & The Night Rockers. In 1967 he released his first album, Mi Saxophone, containing the ballad "Sentimiento," which he wrote for his wife, that was eventually recorded by Latin pop superstar Selena.
During his career, Al Hurricane recorded more than 30 albumsr, received several awards and travelled the world with his music. His unique blend of traditional New Mexican musical elements with other popular genres as well as his integration of Spanish and English vocals contributed to a lasting legacy that lives on in his music and the many musicians he influenced.
