Mexican-American singer and actor Trini Lopez has died at the age of 83 after contracting Covid-19 at a hospital in Rancho Mirage, California.
As he became second in the World War II classic The Dirty Dozen in 1967 as one of the eponymous gang, Lopez scored a transatlantic hit with If I Had a Hammer and designed a few sought-after guitar models for Gibson.
Trinidad Lopez III was born in Dallas, Texas, to Mexican parents. His father, Trinidad Lopez II, was also an actor and singer, and the younger Lopez formed his first band in 15 years before moving between several record contracts. He also had a failed audition for Buddy Holly’s band The Crickets after Holly’s death.
But he deserved a stay in nightclub at PJ’s in Los Angeles, where he was heard by Frank Sinatra, who signed him to his label Reprise. His debut album was recorded live on PJ’s in 1963, featuring a variety of songs derived from American folk, rock’n’roll and traditional Mexican vocals, including covers of Ray Charles’ What’d I Say, Woody Guthrie’s This Land Is Your Land and a messy La Bamba. His version of Peter, Paul and Mary’s If I Had a Hammer outstripped the success of the original, reaching No. 3 in the US, No. 4 in the UK and No. 1 in 36 countries; the album sold more than 1m copies.
Lopez had further American hits with Kansas City and Lemon Tree, while I’m Comin ‘Home Cindy in 1966 was a small UK hit.
At the height of his popularity, he was asked by guitar maker Gibson to design two models, the Trini Lopez Standard and the Lopez Deluxe, whose owners include Dave Grohl and Noel Gallagher.
In the mid-1960s, he released five albums a year, although this was slow in the late 1970s. While continuing to perform, he released quite a bit of music until 2000, when he re-recorded and released six more albums.
He also starred in a self-titled TV variety show in 1969, which began a fitful acting career. His most famous role was as Pedro Jimenez in The Dirty Dozen of 1967, and stood next to Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson and more.
He was unmarried and had no children.
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