Born into a military family (his father was an officer in the Mexican revolution), Jorge Negrete attended the Mexican equivalent of West Point from 1925 to 1928. Upon graduation, however, Negrete became fascinated with music, taking singing lessons from the celebrated Jose Pierson. While still in his very early twenties, he became a star on clear-channel radio station XER, performing a mixture of Mexican and Cuban songs. Known to his fans as "El Charro Cantor," he made his first film in 1937, then headlined a Spanish-language network program in North America. His only Hollywood appearance was in the 1947 MGM musical Fiesta. Jorge Negrete was married to singer Elisa Chrisy and to Mexican film luminary Maria Felix, who became his widow when he died of cirrhosis at the age of 42.
by Hal Erickson
biography
