[4] He was given the honorific nickname "El Charro de México" (Mexico's Horseman) because he is credited with popularizing the Mexican equestrian sport la charrería to international audiences.

His success increased with his tours throughout Latin America and his studio albums, which included Mexican folk songs (rancheras) and ballads (corridos).

[6] To this day, he has been the only Hispanic artist to sell out the Madison Square Garden of New York City for six consecutive nights in 1997.

Aguilar was also largely responsible for the renewed popularity of tambora music in the mid-1980s, when he single-handedly resuscitated the genre with the hit "Triste recuerdo".

On 18 June 2007, doctors announced that Aguilar was no longer responding to treatment and was expected to pass away before the end of the night.

On 19 June 2007, the doctor spoke out to the media that Aguilar was still alive, and his body was responding to the medication, but was still in critical condition.

His coffin was carried through the streets of Zacatecas, the state capital, and was honored at a memorial service attended by hundreds at a church there.

His body was then taken to the hamlet of Tayahua, about 100 kilometres (62 mi)* to the south, where residents waited in the streets to bid Aguilar a final farewell before he was buried at his family's El Soyate ranch nearby, the government news agency Notimex reported.

He was similarly honored with his handprints and star on the Paseo de las Luminarias in Mexico City for his work in movies and in the recording industry.