Julito Rodríguez

Puerto Rican bolero singer, guitarist, and composer. Born October 5, 1925, died July 27, 2013 -- also appears as Julio Rodríguez or Julio Rodríguez Reyes. Rodriguez, as a composer, wrote one of the classics of the Latin American bolero repertory: "Mar y cielo" (Sea and Sky): "...el mar y el cielo, se ven igual de azules, y en la distancia, parece que se unen..." Rafael Hernández helped Rodriguez decide to join the world famous trio, Los Panchos, in 1952. With Los Panchos, Rodriguez's fame expanded beyond Puerto Rico and the rest of Latin America, as the group made several tours that also included Spain, Portugal, Italy and even Israel and Lebanon in the Middle East. Julito Rodriguez became an idol in Mexico as well, recording 122 songs as a member of Los Panchos in that country.