Legendary Mexican singer and composer Armando Manzanero dies aged 85 after being hospitalized with COVID

Mexican singer and composer Armando Manzanero died at the age of 85 on Monday following a COVID-19 infection.

The ballad singer, whose careers spanned seven decades, was diagnosed with the coronavirus December 17 and hospitalized at a Mexico City medical facility five days later. 

He was placed on a ventilator due to shortness of breath.

Mexican newspaper El Universal reported that Manzanero had suffered a heart attack. However, his manager, Laura Blum, said he death was caused by complications from a kidney problem.

On Sunday, Manzanero's family released a statement indicating his lungs were 'already fine and the oxygen level is at a minimum' but that he was still connected to a respirator due to his kidneys' 'delicate' condition, which required dialysis during a period of 72 hours.

Mexico's singer and composer Armando Manzanero died at a Mexico City hospital Monday, six days after he was hospitalized with a  COVID-19 infection. Mexican newspaper El Universal reported that the 85-year-old had suffered a heart attack. His manager, however, said his death was caused due to a kidney ailment

During a career that spanned seven decades, late Mexican singer and songwriter Armando Manzanero wrote more than 400 songs

Manzanero was a crooner best known for songs like 'Somos Novios,' which, with translated English lyrics, became the 1970s hit 'It's Impossible' for Perry Como.

Renowned singers Andrea Bocelli, Placido Domingo, Celia Cruz, Vikki Carr, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera are among the many people who performed his works, and the late Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez once called Manzanero 'one of the greatest current poets of the Spanish language.' 

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador praised the Yucatan native as 'a great composer, and the country's best.'

'Besides that, he was a man with sensitivity, on social questions as well,' the president noted during his daily press briefing Monday morning at the National Palace in Mexico Cuty.

The late Armando Manzanero, a Mexican composer and singer wrote more than 400 songs, including some that were performed by Andrea Bocelli, Placido Domingo, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera

Late Mexican singer and composer Armando Manzanero performs with Cuban singer and member of Buenavista Social Club, Omara Portuondo , during his show in Havana on July 15, 2018

The president played a video clip of Manzanero singing the song 'Adoro,' and appeared so overcome by emotion at the news of his death that he cut short his press conference.

'I do not want to continue with this press conference. It ends here,' López Obrador said before playing the clip.

Manzanero was born in Merida, the capital of Yucatan state, and his ashes will be returned there, Blum said.

He was proud of his roots in the largely Maya indigenous state, noting 'I am a Mexican of Mayan ancestry, I am a Mayan Indian.'

Armando Manzanero told The Associated Press in a 2020 interview that 'the song I wrote 50 or 60 years ago is still alive. Even flowers don't live that long.' He died Monday at the age of 85 following a battle with the coronavirus

The late Armando Manzanero performs during his show in Havana on July 15, 2018

Mexican singer and composer Armando Manzanero died Monday, just six days after he was hospitalized in Mexico City because of a COVID-19 infection

In a 2020 interview with The Associated Press, Manzanero expressed pride at how other artists continued to sing songs he wrote decades ago.

'The song I wrote 50 or 60 years ago is still alive,' Manzanero said. 'Even flowers don't live that long.'

In October, Manzanero received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Latin Billboard Awards on Wednesday, 

In 2014, Manzanero became the first Mexican to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy, which bestows the Grammy Awards. The Latin Grammy-winner was also celebrated for his career in 2010 by the Latin Recording Academy. 

Manzanero had several ex-wives, seven children and 16 grandchildren, all of whom survived him.