![]() ![]() ![]() Jiménez, like others of his contemporaries (Jorge Negrete, Pedro Infante and Javier Solís, the so-called “Three Mexican Roosters”, or Tres Gallos Mexicanos), died young. He was struck-down by hepatitis at age 47 and is regarded, along with Agustín Lara and Juan Gabriel, as one of the best songwriters that Mexico has ever produced. He was certainly one of the most prolific composers in the history of popular music, worldwide. Shortly before his death, he wrote and recorded his last song, “Gracias”, thanking the public for all of the affection they had shown him. His tomb has become a place of pilgrimage for serious music fans from around the Spanish-speaking world. Spanish singer and composer Joaquin Sabina pays homage to José Alfredo Jiménez and Mexican singer (of Costa Rican ancestry) Chavela Vargas in his song “Por el bulevar de los sueños rotos”. Jiménez was married to Julia Gálvez (whom he called “Paloma”) in 1952 and had two children he later married the daughter of comedian Manuel Medel and fathered three much later, he married singer Alicia Juárez, who was 27 years younger than he was (he wrote a song about her entitled-in translation– “I Should Have Fallen in Love with Your Mother”). Jiménez also appeared in numerous Mexican films of the 1950s. Many other movies took their titles from his compositions: Amanecí en tus brazos, Qué bonito amor, La mano de Dios, La vida no vale nada, Me cansé de rogarle, ad infinitum. Iménez’s life was the subject of a 1988 film biography, Pero sigo siendo el rey, starring Leonardo Daniel (the film was based on a story by Paloma Jiménez, which may explain why the Alicia Juárez character–not referred to by that name–is not very favorably portrayed).This has to be M.A.P.'s worst movie. Though Pons started out as a very hot rumbera in the early forties, she was "tamed" by the late fifties, early sixties. In this movie, she is a daughter of a single dad (Fernando Fernández) who follows fairs (carnivals), gambling and drinking. He takes in an orphan boy and the children are raised as siblings. When the children reach their adulthood, they become singers and lovers. However, Tin- Tán's skit and the battle of the composers (Cuco Sánchez and José Alfredo Jiménez) out shadow Pons' and Roberto Rivera's performances, the main protagonists! They could have easily given Pons more and better singing/dancing skits. Difficulties arise when one of the Maldonado brothers is killed after a card game. ![]()
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