Born Juan José Canales in General Treviño, Nuevo León, Mexico on August 23, 1942, Johnny Canales was a Tejano singer and host of his own television show. He released numerous Tejano recordings under his own name and with his backing band Sus Amigos including the singles “Hey Jude” (1969), “Lejos De Ti” (1973), “Rio Ribelde” (1973), and “Seca Tu Llanto” (1976). His album catalog included Regresa (1976), Johnny Canales y Sus Amigos (1989), You Got It (1992) and more. In 1983, he launched his own variety show called The Johnny Canales Show, which he used as a platform to feature new and upcoming Latin artists. The show was best known for introducing future superstar Selena to the world. The show also featured early performances by Los Tigres del Norte, La Mafia, Jennifer Peña, and many others. The show ran on several networks for over four decades and he became a beloved name in Latin households. However, the show was cancelled in 2005 and Johnny Canales filed a lawsuit against Telemundo, which was eventually dropped. He continued to be involved with the music business and remained an iconic figure in Latin music. Johnny Canales died on June 12, 2024, at the age of 81.