Born on 17 February 1940 in the suburb of Huentitan El Alto in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Fernandez spent his early years on his father Ramon's ranch on the outskirts of Guadalajara. He also worked at a young age as a waiter, dish washer, cashier, and finally manager of his uncle's restaurant. "Chente", as he was known to all, became fond of the idyllic ranch lifestyle. His mother often took him to see the films of Pedro Infante; he has said of these films' significance: "When I was 6 or 7, I would go see Pedro Infante's movies, and I would tell my mother, 'When I grow up, I'll be like him.'

In 1990, he released the album Vicente Fernandez y las clasicas de Jose Alfredo Jimenez, a tribute to Mexico's famous songwriter Jose Alfredo Jimenez. The album earned him Billboard and Univision's Latin Music Award for Mexican Regional Male Artist of the Year, which he won 5 times from 1989 to 1993.  In 1998, he was inducted into Billboard's Latin Music Hall of Fame.  In 2002, the Latin Recording Academy recognized Fernandez as Person of the Year. That year he celebrated his 35th anniversary in the entertainment industry, a career in which he has sold more than 50 million records. He has 51 albums listed on the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for gold, platinum, and multiplatinum selling records. He also has his own star on the walk of fame in Hollywood, California; over 5,000 people attended his star-presentation ceremony, which is a record itself.  Fernandez also has an arena in Guadalajara named in his honor, a star placed with his hand prints and name at the Paseo de las Luminarias in Mexico City. In 2010, Fernandez was awarded his first Grammy Award for Best Regional Mexican Album for his record Necesito de Ti.  On October 10, 2012, a stretch of 26th Street (a street in a Hispanic neighborhood of Chicago called Little Village) was named in his honor. In 2015, Fernandez was awarded his second Grammy Award for Best Regional Mexican Music Album (including Tejano) for the album Mano A Mano - Tangos A La Manera De Vicente Fernandez.

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