Rodolfo Olivares (April 19, 1947 – March 17, 2023), known as Fito Olivares, was a Mexican cumbia musician.[The Shade of the Saguaro 886655393X "Fito Olivares' ability to fill large dance halls for the last three decades, playing only Cumbias, is certainly a measure of that genre's enduring presence and popularity in Texas."]
Early life
Olivares was born on April 19, 1947 in Ciudad Camargo,
Tamaulipas, the son of María Cristina Olivares and Mucio Olivares. He spent his childhood on a ranch of Rechinadores, Tamaulipas. In the school of this ranch, he learned to play the
Saxophone that his father bought him. His father Mucio Olivares was a good saxophonist and they started practicing with the saxophone together when he was 12. He graduated from the commercial academy in 1961 and began to work, keeping accounts of some businesses. He began to play professionally in 1963, at the age of 16, in Ciudad Camargo, Tamaulipas.
Career
In 1963, he composed his first song "Ya No Eres Mia" that would lead an LP of the Duet Estrella.
In 1979, Fito became part of Tam and Tex and he wrote such songs as "La Otra Musiquera", "Mi Tamaulipeca", and "Flor de Lirio".
Fito Olivares y su Grupo La Pura Sabrosura was born in 1980 in
Houston, after they released their first album
Mi Profesión. It was recorded under the label
Gil Records.
His biggest hit, “Juana La Cubana,” was nominated for Lo Nuestro Awards, and his next hit, “El Colesterol,” won an ASCAP award in 1996 for best song in the regional Mexican category.
Olivares had his own recording studio, Japonica Studio, and his own publisher where he recorded his songs, Sabrosura Music.
Olivares and his group retired from touring in 2007 and had settled in Houston, Texas. His brother, drummer and lead vocalist Javier Olivares died on June 10, 2012, in Pasadena, Texas.
Death
On March 17, 2023, Fito Olivares died from cancer, of which he had been diagnosed the previous year.
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