Rocio Jurado, 61; Spanish Singer Blended Traditional Styles

Rocio Jurado, 61, a singer and actress who was a beloved figure in Spain and Latin America over a career spanning more than four decades, died Thursday after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

She was hospitalized in Madrid in late March after two months of cancer treatment in Houston.

Maria del Rocio Trinidad Mohedano Jurado was born in Chipiona, Spain. She was married to boxer Pedro Carrasco and later to bullfighter Jose Ortega Cano.

Known for her powerful voice, she blended traditional Spanish styles of flamenco, folk and romantic ballads. She made more than 30 records, performed on both sides of the Atlantic and appeared in nearly a dozen films -- her first as a teenager. In 1985, she performed at the White House for President Reagan.

While living in Argentina, she performed in “La Zapatera Prodigiosa,” a play by Federico Garcia Lorca. After teaming up with composer Manuel Alejandro, she became a huge hit on the Latin music scene and acclaimed throughout the United States.