Juan Raul Davis "Johnny" Rodriguez (born December 10, 1951) is an American country music singer. He was the first famous Latin American country music singer, infusing his music with Latin sounds, and even singing verses of songs in Spanish.
In the 1970s and 1980s, he was one of country music's most successful male artists, recording a string of hit songs, such as "You Always Come Back to Hurting Me," "Desperado," "Down on the Rio Grande" and "Foolin'." He has recorded six No. 1 country hits in his career.
Early life and rise to fame
Rodriguez was born in Sabinal, Texas, a small town situated 90 miles from Mexico. He was the second youngest in a family of ten children living in a four-room house.
Growing up in Sabinal, Rodriguez was a good student in school and an altar boy for his church. He was also the captain of his junior high school football team. When Rodriguez was sixteen, his father died of cancer and his older brother Andres died in an automobile accident the following year. The two incidents had an effect on Rodriguez and he became a troubled teen. In 1969, at age 18, Rodriguez ended up in jail. He sang frequently in his cell and was overheard by Texas Ranger Joaquin Jackson, who was very impressed and told promoter "Happy" Shahan about him. (The common story told is that he was arrested after he and some friends were caught stealing and barbecuing a goat, although Jackson would later state that Rodriguez was in jail simply for an unpaid fine.)
Podcasts:
Johnny Rodriguez
ALBUMS
- 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Johnny Rodriguez released: 2006
- Super Hits released: 1995
- All I Ever Meant to Do Was Sing released: 1973
- Run for the Border released:
- Johnny Rodriguez released:
20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Johnny Rodriguez
Released 2006- You Always Come Back (To Hurting Me)
- Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico
- That's the Way Love Goes
- Dance With Me (Just One More Tiime)
- We're Over
- I Just Can't Get Her Out of My Mind
- Just Get Up and Close the Door
- Love Put a Song in My Heart
- I Couldn't Be Me Without You
- I Wonder If I Ever Said Goodbye
- Desparado
All I Ever Meant to Do Was Sing
Released 1973- Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico
- Release Me (And Let Me Love Again)
- I'll Just Have to Learn to Stay Away From You
- Love and Honor
- Jimmy Was a Drinkin' Kind of Man
- That's the Way Love Goes
- All I Ever Meant to Do Was Love You
- Music City Band
- Love Ain't Such an Easy Thing to Find
- Good Lord Knows I Tried
- I Really Don't Want to Know
Johnny Rodriguez
- Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico
- I Just Can't Get Her Out of My Mind
- We're Over
- You Always Come Back to Hurting Me
- I Couldn't Be Me Without You
- Love Put a Song in My Heart
- Pass Me By
- That's the Way Love Goes
- Makes Me Wonder If I Ever Said, Good-bye
- I Didn't (Every Chance I Had)
- Just Get Up and Close the Door
- Dance With Me Just One More Time
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I Couldn't Be Me Without You
by: Johnny RodriguezWhile putting some new strings on my old guitar
I know just what I'm gonna do
I'm gonna sit down and write me a song
And I'm gonna sing it to you
I realize now after all those hard times
And Lord knows we've had us a few
Together forever, where ever we are
I couldn't be me without you
I couldn't be me without you
I couldn't be me without you
Together forever, where ever we are
I couldn't be me without you
(Instrumental)
I couldn't be me without you
I couldn't be me without you
Together forever, where ever we are