Rigoberto Tovar García (March 29, 1946 March 27, 2005) was a Mexican singer best known as Rigo Tovar, famous for his cumbia songs. Considered a musical pioneer who started fusing electric guitars, synthesizers and rock melody with traditional Mexican music.
Born in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, he died a few days before his 59th birthday from diabetic complications leading to cardio-respiratory failure. Although raised in his native Matamoros, bordertown to Brownsville, Texas, United States, he got his start in Houston, Texas, in the early 1970s. His music, a blend of cumbia, tropical and rock and roll quickly gained him a large following. His first album Matamoros Querido (Beloved Matamoros) (1971) included the title song and "Lamento de Amor"(Lament of Love), both became hit singles.
His life was as full of tragedy and controversy as that of success and fortune. He was born and grew up in extreme poverty in a large family where food was scarce and living conditions were extreme. He lost his mother, with whom he had a very close relationship, when his singing career started to ascend. The relationship with his father was tense and difficult, and although several of his brothers were in the band at the beginning; they left as Rigo started gaining all the attention, which happens with most lead singers. The one brother who stayed was Everardo Tovar who became his manager. Rigo suffered from retinitis pigmentosa a genetic eye condition for which there is no current medical treatment(the reason for his constant usage of dark sunglasses). He started losing his sight in his mid 20's and eventually went blind from this condition, although many people did not understand the ailment and thought it some kind of publicity stunt. He also suffered from vitiligo a skin condition where loss of pigmention causes patches of light skin to appear on the body. Later his brother Everardo Tovar died in the 1985 Mexico City earthquake. Like many popular musicians he had many women in his life, and fathered an estimate of 12 children. In addition to retinitis pigmentosa and vitiligo he also suffered fom diabetes. In his later years life became difficult: blind and sick, he was in the center of family feuds. His funeral was held behind closed doors in a notable funeral agency in Mexico City but fans and some members of his large family entered by force, fortunately without further incidents. He was cremated and his ashes were thrown onto one of Matamoros beaches, according to his wishes.
Rigo Tovar, era un cantante y músico mexicano nacido en Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Creó una mezcla musical entre la cumbia, la balada y el bolero con elementos de rock. Muere el 27 de marzo de 2005 a causa de un paro cardiorrespiratorio.
Nacido en el seno de una familia humilde, de padre Tamaulipeco y madre Texana, Rigoberto Tovar García nace un domingo 29 de Marzo de 1946, a las 11:45 de la mañana en la ciudad de Matamoros, Matamoros Tamaulipas México, la ciudad con la que se fusionó tanto que ahora es inevitable hacer referencia a ambos cuando se hable de cualquiera de los dos.
Es considerado el padre de la Musica Grupera y Tropical, un pionero que introdujo instrumentos modernos a la dotación acostumbrada dentro de la música tropical y de cumbia (guitarras eléctricas, sintetizadores, bajo eléctrico , efectos de sampleo , órganos moog, y batería eléctrica).
Sarita García Barrón, su señora madre le puso el nombre de Rigoberto por que le había gustado ese nombre de un trapecista cuando habían ido a ver una función del Circo Unión, así lo relata don Homobono Tovar Cisneros, su padre, en una entrevista.
Su niñez, al lado de sus padres y sus 9 hermanos transcurre bajo algunas carencias pero, eso si, con la unión familiar y optimismo característico de una familia trabajadora donde el padre involucraba a sus hijos en el trabajo de la carpintería y la construcción para enseñarles las responsabilidades que hay que afrontar en la vida. Dadas éstas carencias la mayoría estudiaron hasta primaria y solo algunos la secundaria, Rigo fue uno de los afortunados por ser uno de los hermanos menores.
En la casa ubicada en la calle Primera de Mayo (donde se “bañaba de polvo sus pies descalzos”) de la colonia Zona Industrial en Matamoros Tamaulipas, a unos metros del Rio Bravo y a otros tantos de las vías del tren, ahí es donde crecieron Héctor, Ilsa, Silvano, Elda, Edelia, Heraclio, Marco Antonio, Everardo, Rigoberto y José Ángel Tovar García.
Así fue la infancia de Rigo, ayudar a su padre, estudiar en la escuela primaria Junco de la Vega, ser mensajero en la farmacia Guadalajara de su natal Matamoros y practicar el uso de algunos instrumentos musicales que había en casa debido a que su padre formaba parte de la banda municipal de la ciudad de Matamoros Tamaulipas, así como una pequeña guitarra un tanto maltratada que su madre le había regalado, y que él mismo reparó, con la cual acostumbraba llevarle serenata el 10 de Mayo junto con sus hermanos y algunos amigos de la secundaria.
Su hermano Silvano, quien ya probaba suerte trabajando en los Estados Unidos le trae, por aquel entonces, su primer guitarra eléctrica, una Silverstone, con ella aumenta el deseo de Rigo de adquirir el resto de los instrumentos musicales requeridos para formar un grupo y alentado por ello, unos cuantos años después, parte a consolidar sus ilusiones a la capital Texana.
