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A career that's spanned five decades is finally winding down.

Vicente Fernandez has made dozens of albums and dozens of movies since the 1960s.

But on Friday evening, thousands gathered at the State Farm Arena to hear the Mexican singer one last time.

Affectionately nicknamed "Don Chente" by his fans, Fernandez is spending 2012 on his farewell tour.

Joe Lopez drove from La Feria to see the show with his wife.

“I understand this is the last show he's doing here in the Valley or before he retires, so we're looking forward to it,” Lopez said before the show.

Lopez said It was the couple's third time seeing Fernandez in concert and the 72-year-old singer never disappoints.

“He puts on a hell of a show,” Lopez said. “We've been to see a lot of entertainers and I think he really wants to leave his fans really satisfied. He actually has that speech when he starts singing that he wants to have everyone happy before he leaves."

Lopez said he’s followed the Mexican-born singer's career for decades and that it brings back nothing but good memories.

“My favorite song I guess would be ‘La Ley Del Monte’,” Lopez said. “I remember as a little kid picking cotton 30 years ago and I heard that song and it was kind of a favorite of ours. We used to listen to country music but a friend of ours would play it on the radio a lot so we became fans."
           
Although vicente fernandez is retiring, for Lopez and many others he'll continue to be “El Rey” or “The King.”