Tejano singer and long-time TV music show host Johnny Canales has died. He was 77 years old.
Canales’ family confirmed his death in a statement on the Johnny and Nora Canales Show Facebook page. The cause of death was not disclosed in the post. Canales died on June 12.
“He was more than just a beloved husband, father, television host, musician and entertainer; he was a beacon of hope and joy to countless people,” the statement said. “His infectious charisma and commitment to promoting Latin American music and culture left a profound impact on the world.”
Born in Mexico, Canales was known by the catchphrase “Take it away” when he hosted a televised music show in Corpus Christi, Texas, in the 1980s and 1990s.
He is credited with launching the career of Tejano superstar Selena on the show, and was portrayed by actor Luis Bordonada in the Netflix series “Selena: The Series.”
At its peak, the syndicated show was seen throughout the United States, Mexico and Latin America.
Art Galvan, a musician from Corpus Christi, said he toured with Canales’ band in the 1970s and called him a longtime friend.
“I was making about $50 a show, man, that was a lot of money back then… he offered me about $75,” Galvan said.
“He was a witty, funny guy … he was a good entertainer, he had a gift for good conversation,” Galvan said. “He had a long, good life.”
Corpus Christi musician and music producer Dusty Oliveira told KXII-TV that he watched Canales’ show as a child and was inspired by it.
“Seeing someone from here do this and then take off on a national or even global level is really important because you want to see people like yourself doing these things,” Oliveira said.
