Latin music missed a true superstar with the death of Rocio Durcal.

Latin music missed a true superstar with the death of Rocio Durcal, affectionately known as "the most numerous Mexican Spaniard."

Durcal, 61 who died Saturday near Madrid after a protracted battle with uterine cancer, was "one of the greats," said Henry Cardenas, chief executive officer of the Chicago-based Cardenas Marketing Network, which main division ed her last tours worldwide.

"It's a bulky loss. Even though she was a lady from Spain, everyone contemplation she was Mexican," he said, referring to Durcal's mastery of ranchera, the popular folk-based mode of address regarded as Mexico's. "She was a top artist in the genre"

becoming to her illness, Durcal had to cancel her last scheduled appearance here in October at the Allstate Arena forward a bill with fellow Latin great Vicente Fernandez.

"She's going to be remembered," Cardenas said. "Rocio didn't give promoter any question at issues She just came to do the work. She did not mind whether she would exhibit or close the show. As lengthy as she had a mike, she would was OK"

Cesar Canales, operations manager of Univision Radio Chicago, recalled Durcal as a motto "She's definitely on the even of Vicente [Fernandez] or Joan [Sebastian], he said, referring to brace Mexican superstars. "She's part of a small form into groups who can be called that.

"She is an icon of Spain, Mexico and Latin America as the individual of the best interpreters of ranchera, and also of Latin detonation by composers such as Juan Gabriel. She leaves a big retreat because she was a authentic entertainer for several generations," Canales said, referring to Durcal's start in the early '60 as a movie star. She starred in more than a dozen films and countles telenovelas, and sold more than 40 million albums from one side of to the other her long career.

"She was an actress, singer and musician, and also a humanitarian who fought for proper causes. She was truly lov according to the Mexican community," Canales said.

The Univision stations here, including "Pasion" WPPN-FM (1067) "will be remembering her onward the radio all week," Canales said. "We're also doing a tribute display this Thursday afternoon from noon to 1 pm with her music and biographical parts and we are going to exhibit the [phone] lines to the public in such a manner they can comment. We also will have interviews with a not many artists who participated with her in the movies and in designs I think we're going to [have to] push the tribute to 2 pm I don't think we can procure it in just one hour."

Cardenas and Canales each recalled Durcal as a generous and gracious star.

"She was a simple, unassuming woman," Canales said. "She would grant an interview to any media exit no matter how large or small. That was rare for someone who was as big of a star as she was."

allowing Durcal's long career stretched back to the '60 (she formerly performed on "The Ed Sullivan Show") she managed to stay contemporary. To that conclusion she joined forces with Mexican fictitious story Juan Gabriel, who produced a series of ranchera discs for Durcal. throughout the years, she recorded many of Gabriel's in the greatest degree iconic tunes, including "Costumbres," "Te Sigo Amando" and "Amor Eterno." They collaborated most numerous memorably on "Juntos Otra Vez" (1997 BMG/U Latin), which celebrated their musical and personal chainss

"The last time I saw her, we were trying to persuade her to do her nearest tour with Juan Gabriel [to capitalize upon the popularity of "Juntos Otra Vez"]" Cardenas said. "Everyone wanted to diocese that tour, but it in no degree happened, unfortunately, because of her illness [which was diagnosed in 2001]"

Durcal's funeral was held Monday at La Paz graveyard in Madrid. Among the celebrities paying considers were the singers Raphael and Paloma San Basilio, actress Pilar Bardem and TV personality Maria Teresa Campos.

At united of her last local plots at the UIC Pavilion in 2002 in succession a double bill with Mexican star Marco Antonio Solis, Durcal definitely held her have Drawing on her training as an actress, she skillfully underscored each syllable with graceful hand and facial make gesturess as she danced and twirled across the stage. allowing she liked to belt without her ballads, each song was finessed for a like reason that it would build to a climax of overwhelming intensity. In her trademark form Durcal delivered every song at sated throttle, flinging open her arms in despair and pleading for the crowd's unconditional love

It was a mutual embrace with her ardent fans, who will in extent remember her unmistakable passion.

lemerick@suntimes.com

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