Manzanero, who was 85, died in a hospital in Mexico City, the Society for Authors and Composers of Mexico confirmed to CNN. He was hospitalized in mid-December after a positive test for Covid-19, CNN reported at the time.
Manzanero was a prolific composer, with more than 600 songs in his name, according to society. His songs were performed by artists from around the world, including Elvis Presley, Dionne Warwick, Perry Como, Spanish singer Raphael and also Mexican star Luis Miguel.
The Latin Recording Academy, which awards the Latin Grammy, expressed its solidarity. “Armando Manzanero received the Award for Musical Excellence and was the winner of the Latin Grammy, as well as a great friend who is already gone,” said the organization.
“We celebrate his life and work. An irreplaceable loss to the world of Latin music. We are with the Manzanero family in their pain.”
Manzanero won a Latin Grammy in 2001 for his album “Duets”.
He won the prize for his work as a whole in 2014, becoming the first Mexican to receive this honor.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador expressed his condolences.
“Armando Manzanero was a sensitive man, a man of the people. That is why I regret his death,” he said during a news conference on Monday. “He was also a great composer.”
Manzanero will be cremated in Mexico City and his remains will be taken to his hometown, Mérida, in the state of Yucatán.
Mexico was hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, registering 1,383,434 cases of coronavirus and 122,426 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.