09:03 | Buenos Aires, Jan. 05 (ANDINA).
Popular Argentine singer Sandro died at 64 years of age, shaking the country and much of the region, where he was considered one of the top Latin musical idols of all time.
Roberto Sanchez, the singer's given name, died Monday night of septic shock caused by complications after having cardio-pulmonary transplants in November, DPA reported.
The heartthrob pop idol was born on August 19, 1945 and raised in an industrial suburb of Buenos Aires. His father descended from Hungarian Roma, and the young singer was known by the nickname Gitano (Gypsy) throughout his life.
He rocketed to stardom in the 1960s with his band Sandro y los del Fuego, initially imitating Elvis Presley before developing his own melodic style that brought him fame around the world.
He recorded 52 records, selling an estimated 8 million copies, and starred in several films. He was the first Latin singer to fill Madison Square Garden in New York, and the first to broadcast a concert live via satellite, in 1970, from the same venue where he was billed as Sandro de America
"He was the maximum idol," said television presenter Susana Gimenez, who starred with him in various films.
"He was a very loyal man, very well-mannered, very talented," she said, and compared him to renowned tango singer Carlos Gardel.
Singer Estela Raval said Sandro "honoured life, song and good humour."
"He shouldn't have left us so soon, he had so much more to give and to live, for all the people who loved him and have prayed day and night for him," Raval said.
"His death is a tremendous blow."
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Publicado: 5/1/2010