Vicente Fernandez Retires From The Spotlight

At 73-years-old, a powerful voice will retire from the stages this spring.

Vicente Fernandez has left an extended musical trajectory for which he will always be remembered as: el rey de la canción ranchera (the king of ranchera music)

Fernandez, also known as "Chente," announced on February of last year that after more than 45 years of an artistic career he was finally leaving the spotlight, according to CNN Mexico.

"When I make a decision it is definitive," the singer said. "An artist needs to retire at the right moment and I think that this year I will say goodbye to all of you."

Abc.es noted the reason for which the singer and actor felt it was the right time to go:

"A singer needs to retire with a lot of dignity, before he can make his public feel sorry for him and therefore let them down," the singer explained.

Chente began "La Gira Del Adios" (The Goodbye Tour) in April of 2012 with a show in Acapulco but late in November he underwent a surgical procedure to remove a malignant tumor from his liver. The successful surgery lasted 10 hours, reported People en Español.

"Thank you to everyone that prayed for me," the singer said during a press conference after the surgery. "I think they helped a lot because here you have me with a lot fight left in me, at least to finish my farewell tour which I yearn to do."

Finally, on Feb. 15 of this year he kicked off his tour once again in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The U.S. leg of the tour will begin this March 23 at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, a date in which he will receive a tribute in commemoration of his last tour.

According to People en Español, The International Association of Press Radio and Television will honor the singer with the Galardon diamond in recognition of his artistic career, professional achievements and outstanding stage presence - this is the first time that the association will give out this award to an artist.

"We feel very honored to have the opportunity to give this important distinction to a living icon and legend of entertainment in the Spanish-speaking world," Pablo Antonio Castro Zavala, president of the organization said. "Without out a doubt, with his charisma, music and movies have conquered the hearts of millions of people in the American continent."

The U.S. tour, sponsored by Budweiser, is already more than 70 percent sold and it will include performances from the singer's son, Vicente Fernandez Jr., reported Billboard.

Besides Las Vegas, the tour will remain in California making stops in Los Angeles, Fresno, Stockton, San Jose and three shows in Universal City.