Rocío Dúrcal

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Rocío Dúrcal (October 4, 1944 - March 25, 2006), born as María de los Ángeles de Las Heras Ortiz, was a Spanish singer and actress. Her birth and death both occurred in Madrid, Spain. She was affectionally known as "the most Mexican of Spaniards" by her adoring Mexican fans.

She was discovered in singing contests at the age of 15 and offered a role at 17 in Canción de Juventud. After acting in several films she married Filipino-Spanish singer Antonio Morales (a.k.a. Júnior), a member of the Pop group Los Brincos. In 1975, after having two of her three children, she retired from the film industry and in early 1976 re-launched her singing career. She recorded the first of several albums of Mexican folk (ranchera) music produced by Juan Gabriel which sold millions of records not only in Mexico, but also Spain and the rest of Latin America. After temporary problems with Juan Gabriel she recorded a Mexican music album with Marco Antonio Solís and had similar success.

In 2001, Rocío Dúrcal was diagnosed with uterine cancer. In 2004, her doctors discovered a malignant lesion (abnormal cancerous tissue) in her lungs, which was treated with chemotherapy. The cancer later metastasized (spread of cancer cells) to her brain. After a lengthy and heroic battle with cancer, Rocío died in her home in Madrid on March 25, 2006.

Her star influenced many other female Mariachi singers from Mexico as well as the Hispanic community of the United States.