Family of Fito Olivares release statement on passing of ‘El Rey de la Cumbia’

The family of Fito Olivares released a statement after the death of the music legend at age of 75 on Friday (March 17) following a months long battle with cancer.

The statement was shared via social media in Spanish by his wife Gris Olivares.

“With great pain and deep regret on behalf of my children Rodolfo, Alexandra, Juan Pablo, and myself, I want to officially announce the death of my dear husband Rodolfo “Fito” Olivares.

After several months of being diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, this morning he lost his battle against cancer.

I want to express to all those who followed his career and still listen and dance to the melodies that my husband wrote, we also want to thank all the expressions of affection, the support and all the messages from him.

You called him “The King of Cumbia,” for us our King was a loving, generous, responsible husband and father, a rather silent family man when he was not making or practicing music,” said his wife Gris Olivares.

In our hearts “Fito” will always live the king of our family and will continue to live in our memories, as well as in each person who dances or listens to his music.

Rest in peace our beloved Fito.”

Fito Olivares was born in Tamaulipas, Mexico in 1947. After starting to play professionally at the age of 16, Olivares played with and wrote music for, groups like Duet Estrella as well as Tam and Tex before forming his own band Fito Olivares Y La Pura Sabrosura in Houston in 1980.

Olivares and La Pura Sabrosura were known for classic mega hits including “Juana La Cubana,” “La Gallina,” “La Guera Salome,” “El Colesterol,” and “Aguita De Melon.”

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