New Mexico legend Al Hurricane Jr. honored at funeral

NEW MEXICO – Loved ones filled Queen of Heaven Catholic Church as the state mourned musician Al Hurricane Jr., whose family said he died at 66 from a heart attack.

Family members, friends and others gathered Saturday morning for his funeral service and honored the legacy he left behind. KOB 4 spoke with relatives as they said their final goodbyes.

“270 years we can still be listening to Beethoven, Mozart, Handel. Why couldn’t we in 270 year be listening to Flor de las Flores?” the priest said.

A voice that helped define New Mexico’s sound is now being remembered across the state. Al Hurricane Jr. started his musical career at age 5 and later followed in the footsteps of his father, Al Hurricane.

“Through the years, he was so sweet, he listens very well, very well. And he made a song, well, the song that was for him and I, that he always sang when we used to see him was Flor de las Flores,” Frances Lucero said.

Remembering his legacy

Lucero, whose husband Anthony Lucero is second cousins with Al Hurricane Jr., joined dozens of family members inside the church to pay respects.

“Al Jr.’s dad and I were first cousins, so I’ve known Al Jr. basically after he was born, after his dad passed away, we kept in touch with each other,” Jacob Sanchez said.

“People would see him, and he was so easy to get along with. For me, it was easy, because we were related, but I could see him relate to other people, and there was almost an immediate bond. I was very impressed by that all the time, and just had that ability to become close to people, complete strangers,” Sanchez said.

His relatives said that even with his fame, he never lost sight of who he was.

“Just his ability to have an impact on people, he was so humble, and he had this million dollar smile,” Sanchez said.

Will the music continue?

His family said his legacy will live on through his relatives and the music they continue to perform.

“It’ll continue on, because he still has a brother, Jerry D, Jerry Dean, and him and his sons are starting to come out too so that’s whats going to keep it alive, them and sparks is going to keep it alive,” Antonio Lucero said.

“I will always remember him. He’ll always.. there will not be a day in his years that no one will ever forget them, no. I guarantee you that so far,” Lucero said.

His family said he died at the age of 66 from a heart attack.