Johnny Canales, Tejano icon and TV host, dead at 77: 'He was a beacon of hope'

Tejano music legend Johnny Canales has died at 77.

In a statement posted to their official joint Facebook page, Canales' wife Nora Canales announced her husband's death on Thursday.

"He was more than just a beloved husband, father, TV host, musician, and entertainer; he was a beacon of hope and joy for countless people," the statement read. "His infectious charisma and dedication to promoting Latino music and culture left a large mark on the world."

He was best known as the host of "The Johnny Canales Show." The late, legendary Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez famously debuted on the show in 1986 and her band Selena y Los Dinos were repeat guests for years.

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"Johnny's spirit will continue to live on through the countless lives he touched and the legacy he built," the statement continued.

Nora Canales thanked the family's fans and supporters for their "kind words, love, and support during this difficult time."

Tejano legendJohnny Canales dead at 77

"Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers. Remember him not with sadness, but with the joy and passion he always brought into our lives," she wrote in the Facebook statement.

"The Johnny Canales Show" was a popular syndicated variety show that began airing in 1983. Canales featured both up-and-coming and established musical groups from the United States, Mexico and Central and South America, and at its peak could be seen in 23 countries.

The syndicated "The Johnny Canales Show" ended in 2005, according to the Corpus Christi Caller Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. But Canales brought back the show with his wife in 2013 for a time as "El nuevo Show de Johnny y Nora Canales" and the couple remained active on social media.

Contributing: Allison Ehrlich and John Oliva, Corpus Christi Caller Times