A country music pioneer who racked up several chart-topping hits during the 1970s has died at the age of 73. Johnny Rodriguez died on Friday, May 9 “surround by family,” his daughter, Aubry Rodriguez, wrote on social media.

The first popular Mexican American country artist, he was best known for the 1970s hits “I Just Can’t Get Her Out of My Mind” and “Ridin’ My Thumb to Mexico.”

The Texas native was known for recordings like "That's the Way Love Goes," "You Always Come Back (To Hurting Me)," and his signature wanderlust anthem, "Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico"