Conjunto and Tejano music legend Nick Villarreal, known to many as Nicky Snick, passed away on Sunday (July 30). He was 66.
Villarreal was hospitalized on July 29 after suffering a cardiac arrest and was in critical, but stable condition on life support in the ICU, according to reports. He was taken off life support late Sunday and passed away.
The music legend had been diagnosed with diabetes for many years and talked about it in an interview with Rancho Alegre Radio in 2013.
Villarreal was part of the musical Zimmerle family and learned to play the accordion at the age of 5 by his grandfather James Zimmerle. Â He eventually started his own conjunto with his brothers Roger, David, and cousin, David Zimmerle, and recorded his first 45 on Toby Torres’ recording label. Â He then recorded under San Antonio-based Joey Records.
“Nicky Snick” is known for his unmistakable, easy-going goofy cumbias and he credits the many conversations he had with his mother, MarÃa Luis Zimmerle-Villarreal, as inspiration for many of his greatest hits.  Some of those hits include “Kool-Aid con Hielo,” “La ‘Not to Worry, ‘” and “La ‘I Gotta Go.'”
LISTEN: “La I Gotta Go / La Not To Worry” – Nick Villarreal
Tejano Nation 
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