Emilio Navaira
Emilio Navaira attends the 45th Annual Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden on February 23, 2003 in New York City. Scott Gries/Getty Images

Univision reported that Emilio Navaira had died on May 16, at the age of 53 after suffering a fatal heart attack. “I regretfully inform you that the rumor has been confirmed. The Texas musical family is mourning. Rest in peace Emilio Navaira. My deepest condolences to all his family and fans,” Navaira’s publicist Norma Durán wrote.

Last week, the Tejano star’s family revealed the details of his funeral and confirmed it would be open to fans in order for them to pay their respects and say their last goodbyes. As informed at the time, the funeral took place on the morning of May 22 at the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio Texas, same venue where he performed numerous times, according to his family.

Attendants stood in line to bid the King of Rodeo goodbye, whose body was lying in an open casket and surrounded by flowers, with his music playing in the background.

In addition to the moving ceremony, People en Español reported there will be a Rosary at 4 p.m. (local time) at the venue on Sunday and a mass will be held the following day, on Monday, at the Cathedral of San Fernando.

"The pain we are feeling is hard," Raulito Navaira, brother of the late Tejano star told People en Español. “It helps knowing that a lot of people loved my brother,” he said.

The Grammy winner leaves behind his wife Maru Navaira, five children; three from his first marriage to Cynthia Navaira and two from his second marriage to Maru, and his parents and two siblings, Yvette and Raulito.

“On behalf of TTMA and Staff and all Emilio Navaira Tejano Music Fans our Prayer Goes out to His Family and Raulito Navaira on Emilio Navaira Passing. Tejano Music Mourn the loss of Tejano Music Icon Emilio Navaira. Our Music has lost one of the great performers in our Genre,” Felix Mendoza from the Texas Talent Musicians Association, wrote at the time of Navaira’s death.

© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.