Tejano pioneer Johnny Canales has died

• Canales had been dealing with health complications since he suffered a stroke in 2008. He was 76 when he died, TejanoNation.net confirms.
• His death followed weeks of speculation about his state of health. Canales and his wife reassured fans just weeks ago he was doing OK.

Context: Canales and his eponymous program, "The Johnny Canales Show," were household names for many Latinos. The Corpus Christi-based show debuted in 1983 and ran until the mid-1990s.

• Canales became known as the Mexican American Dick Clark.
• Countless Latino stars — from Selena to Ramon Ayala — performed on his show.

What they're saying: The Thursday Facebook post called him a "beacon of hope and joy."

• "His infectious charisma and dedication to promoting Latino music and culture left a large mark on the world. Johnny's spirit will continue to live on through the countless lives he touched and the legacy he built," the post said.

Tejano singer Shelly Lares shared her condolences online, calling Canales a "dear friend" and thanking him for inviting her on his show when she was age 12 and supporting her throughout her career.

• "You'll be forever missed, loved and appreciated. Now all the angel musicians can get a proper introduction with, 'You got it, take it away,'" she wrote in a post.