Rigo Tovar

In 1981, in the notably religious northern Mexican city of Monterrey, 300,000 people turned out to see the Pope. Two years later, when Rigo Tovar and his band Costa Azul (Blue Coast) performed there, the attendance was more than 350,000. Tovar, who has died of a heart attack aged 58, was one of Mexico's most adored stars, selling more than 25m records during his lifetime.

Tovar set up Costa Azul in 1972. His work, with its simple, playful lyrics, was rooted in Colombian cumbia, repetitive and catchy syncopated rhythms jazzed up with synthesisers and electric guitars. His biggest hit was The Little Mermaid, and others included My Friend, My Wife, My Lover, and I Am Who I Am. He also made five movies, and the hugely successful Rigo Es Amor (Rigo Is Love, 1980) provided him with his catchword.

Far from conventionally handsome, he sported a shaggy black mane of hair, a peace-and-love sign and dark glasses - which he wore all the time because of an eye disease that eventually left him blind.

Tovar exemplified a Mexican stereotype of the incorrigible charmer. This in part rested on a look which combined cowboy fashion, glam rock and a touch of hippy, such as a bright purple jumpsuit covered with zips and silver tassels, rounded off with white boots.

Behind the glitter was a sense of authenticity that meant he was embraced as a man of the people.

Tovar was born in Matamoros on the border with Texas. He was working as a waiter in a Houston club, it was said, when he took the microphone one night and kickstarted his career.

Tovar reputedly married his wife, Maria Isabel Martinez, when she was just 14. They had three children and he had, perhaps, a dozen more with other partners.

Tovar had kept a low profile for the past few years. He was completely blind and had diabetes. But his death aroused strong passions. Fans burst into the Mexico City funeral parlour where his open coffin lay, and two former partners and their children came close to blows over who should stand guard over the body.

The singer spent his last decade with his former maid. She was largely shut out of the ceremonies.

· Rigo Tovar (Rigoberto Tovar Garcia), entertainer, born March 29 1946; died March 27 2005

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