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Fans mourn the death of Tejano legend Jimmy Gonzalez in public funeral

Visitation services were held Monday for Tejano legend Jimmy Gonzalez.

Brownsville, Texas — Fans, family and friends showed up for the first day of public funeral services as they said their final farewells and shared some of their fondest memories of the Grammy Award-winning artist.

Dozens of people from all over the country lined up at the Brownsville Events Center to say goodbye to one of Latin music’s greatest: Jimmy Gonzalez.

It was the combination of his music and heart that made the Tejano artist a legend. One that created a devoted following.

“He had a big heart,” said long-time fan Juanita Gomez.

Gomez carried a Grupo Mazz jacket that was signed by Gonzalez as late as last week. Gomez traveled nearly 300 miles from San Antonio to pay her respect. She recalls the moment she learned Jimmy had died.

“I had gotten up from my desk and then my co-worker Laura, she comes looking for me. She goes ‘Juanita, did you know that Jimmy passed away?’… and I go ‘no’,” she said.

Sandy Rodriguez, a close family friend and self-proclaimed number one fan said she preferred to remember the happy moments. “My fondest memory will have to be when he brought me up at Fiesta and introduced me as his oldest daughter,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez was by Gonzalez’s side during his final moments before he died from cardiac arrest Wednesday at a San Antonio hospital.

“I can’t cry. Somebody has to be strong. The tears will come later,” Rodriguez said.

As Rodriguez held back those tears, the Gonzalez family let theirs run. “People talk about celebrating, yes we want to celebrate his music, but it’s very hard because we have a lot of memories,” said Gonzalez’s brother, Tommy.

In a career that spanned four decades, Jimmy Gonzalez y el Grupo Mazz set out to win multiple Grammy Awards and sell thousands of records.

“There’s going to be some sweet sounds coming down from the night shift,” Gonzalez’s brother said, referring to him in heaven. “There’s quite a band up there right now.”

A public funeral will be held Tuesday, June 12 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Brownsville.

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