José Alfredo Jiménez
Sandoval José Alfredo Jiménez Sandoval (xoˈse alˈfɾeðo xiˈmenes; 19 January 1926 – 23 November 1973) was a Mexican actor and singer-songwriter, whose songs are regarded as the basis of modern Regional Mexican music and Rancheras.
Also recorded as José Alfredo Jiménez Sandoval · Jose Alfredo Jimenez
José Alfredo Jiménez

Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Full name
- José Alfredo Jiménez Sandoval.
- Born
- 1926. · Dolores Hidalgo Municipality.
- Died
- 1973. · Mexico City.
- Nationality
- Mexico.
- Occupation
- singer-songwriter, singer, songwriter, mariachi, composer and musician.
- Fields
- ranchera and mariachi.
- Honours
- Latin Grammy Hall of Fame.
- Languages
- Mexican Spanish.
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Documentary summary
Sandoval José Alfredo Jiménez Sandoval (xoˈse alˈfɾeðo xiˈmenes; 19 January 1926 – 23 November 1973) was a Mexican actor and singer-songwriter, whose songs are regarded as the basis of modern Regional Mexican music and Rancheras.
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Note VALÉORINE
José Alfredo Jiménez (1926–1973) was a Mexican composer, mariachi and musician, among other activities. Born José Alfredo Jiménez Sandoval in Dolores Hidalgo Municipality, the composer died in Mexico City.
Genres include mariachi and ranchera. Languages used include Mexican Spanish. José Alfredo Jiménez received Latin Grammy Hall of Fame.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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Authority files
wikidata · Q1352007 · wikipedia · José Alfredo Jiménez
In this article
Early life
Early life
Jiménez was born in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, Mexico. His father died when he was ten years old, and his mother moved the family to Mexico City. Jiménez worked from a young age to help support his family. He took a job as a waiter at a Yucatacan restaurant in Santa María de la Ribera named La Sirena. While working there, he started writing songs and singing with a group called Los Rebeldes. In his youth, Jiménez enjoyed playing football as a goalkeeper. He and Antonio Carbajal—who would later become a legendary Mexican goalkeeper and the first player to participate in five FIFA World Cups—competed for the goalkeeper position at the amateur club El Oviedo in Santa María la Ribera, Mexico City, in 1942.
Career
Career
The singer Miguel Aceves Mejía claims to have discovered him from Los Rebeldes. According to Mejía, Jiménez did not play an instrument and did not even know the Spanish word for "waltz" or what keys his songs were in. Following Mejía's instruction, Jiménez auditioned at the Radio Station XEW's Amanecer Ranchero together with the Mariachi Vargas and Rubén Fuentes. Jiménez performed a cappella, including his song "Ella". Don Miguel subsequently recorded "Ella, "Yo", "Serenata huasteca" and "Tu Recuerdo y yo". • Illustration — José Alfredo Jiménez in a traditional charro suit, photographed circa 1950 by Simón Flechine. After this, he composed more than 1,000 songs. Among the most famous are "Yo", "Me equivoqué contigo", "Ella", "Paloma querida", "Que se me acabe la Vida ", "Tú y la mentira", "Media vuelta", "El Rey", "Sin sangre en las venas", "El jinete", "Si nos dejan", "Amanecí en tus brazos", "Llegando a ti", "Tu recuerdo y yo", El hijo del pueblo", "Cuando el destino", "El caballo blanco", "Llegó borracho el Borracho" and "Que te vaya bonito", as well as "Camino de Guanajuato", where he sang about his home state of Guanajuato. One of his last appearances on Mexican television occurred in 1973, just months prior to his death, where he introduced his last song, "Gracias", accompanied by his wife, singer Alicia Juarez. Later, Jiménez died at the age of 47 years old in Mexico City on 23 November 1973 due to complications resulting from cirrhosis.
Personal life
Personal life
José Alfredo Jiménez, had three significant relationships during his lifetime. His first marriage was to Paloma Gálvez in 1952, with whom he had two children: José Alfredo Jr. and Paloma. Despite their separation around 1960, their marriage was never legally dissolved, making it his only legal marriage. Subsequently, he entered into a long-term relationship with actress and model Mary Medel, with whom he had four children: Guadalupe, José Antonio, Martha, and José Alfredo Jiménez Medel. Although they were not legally married, they formed a family and lived together for over a decade before separating. In 1970, Jiménez married singer Alicia Juárez in a religious ceremony; however, due to the unresolved status of his first marriage, the legality of this union is disputed. They remained together until Jiménez's death in 1973.
Studio albums
Studio albums
• La Sota De Copas (1970) • El Cantinero (1971) • El Rey (1971) • Gracias (1972)
Compilation albums
Compilation albums
• 15 Exitos Inolvidables De (1983) — RCA Records • 12 Exitos De Oro (1988) — RCA Records • Lo Esencial (2008) — RCA/Legacy Recordings
Partial filmography
Partial filmography
• The Guests of the Marquesa (1951) • Here Comes Martin Corona (1952) • El enamorado (1952) • Ni pobres ni ricos (1953) • Los aventureros (1954) • Tres bribones (1955) – Cantante • Camino de Guanajuato (1955) – José Alfredo Martínez • Pura Vida (1956) – El mismo • La fiera (1956) – Cantante • La feria de San Marcos (1958) • Guitarras de medianoche (1958) – José Alfredo • Ferias de México (1959) • Mis padres se divorcian (1959) – Cantante (uncredited) • Cada quién su música (1959) • El hombre del alazán (1959) • Juana Gallo (1961) – Nabor, el caporal • Las hijas del Amapolo (1962) • La Sonrisa de los Pobres (1964) • Escuela para solteras (1965) – El desesperado • Audaz y bravero (1965) – Cantante • Me cansé de rogarle (1966) • Arrullo de Dios (1967) • El caudillo (1968) – Borrego • La chamuscada (1971) – Revolucionario • La loca de los milagros (1975) – (final film role)
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1973
José Alfredo Jiménez died at Mexico City.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Dolores Hidalgo Municipality.
Birth place
Mexico City.
Death place
Tribute
• Illustration — The themed José Alfredo Jiménez' tomb in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato Jiménez is buried in his hometown of Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato. His tomb, the "Mausoleum of José Alfredo Jiménez", is in the shape of a traditional shawl and sombrero, much like the ones Jiménez would wear during his performances. Son of José Alfredo Jiménez, singer José Alfredo Jiménez Medel, wrote a prologue to a 214-page book commemorating him that is titled En el último trago nos vamos. His daughter, Paloma Jiménez Gálvez, also released a book titled Es Inútil Dejar De Quererte: 50 Años Sin José Alfredo in the 37th edition of the Guadalajara International Book Fair. His songs have been recorded by many artists, such as Selena, Miguel Aceves Mejía, Little Joe Hernández & The Latinaires, and the Mexican rock group Maná. Joaquín Sabina paid homage to Jiménez with his song, "Por el Bulevar de los Sueños Rotos" ("On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams"). • Illustration — Monument to José Alfredo Jiménez in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato
References ===== Other =
References ===== Other =
• Jiménez, José Alfredo. 1 April 2002. Publication Somos, Group Televisa S.A de C.V. "Promotor con buen Estrella". pp. 62–63.

José Alfredo Jiménez - Graffiti (esténcil) en calle de Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, México.
Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata

Pintura de José Alfredo Jiménez en el Museo de la Independencia Nacional en Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, México.
Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Colin Larkin. The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music. Virgin Books. 221. 2002. 1-85227-937-0.
- 2.Gradante, William. "El Hijo del Pueblo": José Alfredo Jiménez and the Mexican "Canción Ranchera". Latin American Music Review / Revista de Música Latinoamericana. 3. 1. 36–59. 1982. 0163-0350.
- 3.Broyles-González, Yolanda. Latino Studies. Oxford University Press. 2025-04-17. 978-0-19-991370-1.
- 4.Jose Alfredo Jimenez and the Cancion Ranchera. West Music.
- 5.Gurza, Agustín. José Alfredo Jiménez. The Strachwitz Frontera Collection of Mexican and Mexican American Recordings.
- 6.Omar Fares, “Como porteros: José Alfredo Jiménez y ‘La Tota’”, *Mural*, 07 June 2020.
- 7.Aceves Mejia, Miguel. Jose Alfredo Jimenez. 17 June 2013.
- 8.Cid, Alejandro Santos. Viaje al centro de la leyenda de José Alfredo Jiménez. El País México. 2023-11-23.
- 9.Jiménez, Felipe. Cincuenta años después de su partida, José Alfredo Jiménez sigue siendo el rey. revista-liber.org.
- 10.Escritores reinterpretan a José Alfredo Jiménez. El Sol de México. 25 November 2023.
- 11.Daughter of José Alfredo Jiménez prepares album with unreleased material. The Yucatan Times. 2023-12-07.
References
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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