Jo El Sonnier Cause of Death and Obituary, Who Was Jo El Sonnier? What Happened to Jo El Sonnier? How Did Jo El Sonnier Die?
by Swetha P
Updated Jan 16, 2024
What Happened to Jo-El Sonnier?
Jo-El Sonnier, the Grammy-winning Cajun and country recording artist, passed away on January 13, 2024, at the age of 77. Following a Saturday night performance at the Llano Country Opry in Llano, Texas, Sonnier suffered a major heart attack. The iconic singer had just completed an hour-long show, concluding with his signature song, "Tear-Stained Letter," which garnered him a standing ovation.
Despite plans to rest briefly before meeting fans for autographs, Sonnier experienced cardiac arrest and was flown to a nearby hospital in Austin, Texas, where he was pronounced dead. His music promoter, Tracy Pitcox, shared the news on social media, expressing that Sonnier spent his final day doing what he loved, entertaining his fans with his wife Bobbye by his side.
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Who was Jo-El Sonnier?
Jo-El Sonnier, born on October 2, 1946, in Rayne, Louisiana, was a legendary country and Cajun singer. His musical journey began at the young age of six when he made his first radio debut playing his brother's accordion. In the '70s, Sonnier signed with Mercury Nashville Records but later chose independence, signing with Rounder Records.
Notably, his independent release, "Zydeco Gris-Gris," earned him a Grammy nomination in 1986. Over his illustrious career, Sonnier released more than 30 albums and received a Grammy Award in 2015 for his album "The Legacy." Despite "The Legacy" being his last recorded album, Sonnier continued to captivate audiences across the nation until his untimely death at 77.
Jo-El Sonnier Cause of Death and Obituary
Jo-El Sonnier's cause of death was reported as a cardiac arrest, occurring after his performance in Llano, Texas. Cardiac arrest, defined as the sudden stoppage of the heart, led to a lack of blood flow, causing Sonnier's untimely passing.
The announcement was made by his music promoter, Tracy Pitcox, who highlighted that Sonnier spent his final moments doing what he loved—entertaining fans with his wife Bobbye by his side. Sonnier's career spanned several decades, and he left an indelible mark on the music industry with chart-topping hits and a Grammy-winning album in 2015.
What Happened to Jo El Sonnier? - FAQs
Jo-El Sonnier passed away at the age of 77.
His last recorded album was "The Legacy," released in 2013, which won a Grammy in 2015.
Jo-El Sonnier was married to his wife Bobbye for 31 years.
Jo-El Sonnier concluded his last performance with his signature song, "Tear-Stained Letter."
Jo-El Sonnier won a Grammy Award in 2015 for his album "The Legacy."