Singer and actor Trini Lopez dies of Covid-19 at 83

In this Jan. 1, 2002 file photo, singer and actor Trini Lopez poses in Dallas. Trini Lopez, a singer and guitarist who gained fame for his versions of 'Lemon Tree' and 'If I Had A Hammer' in the 1960s and took his talents to Hollywood, has died. He was 83. Photo: AP

Trini Lopez, the pop singer and guitarist who also acted in Robert Aldrich's The Dirty Dozen, died Tuesday (Aug 11) of complications from Covid-19.

Palm Springs Life magazine first reported his death; he was a longtime resident of the desert enclave. Filmmakers P. David Ebersole and Todd Hughes had recently completed a documentary about his life, which was featured in the magazine.

Born Trinidad Lopez III in Dallas, Texas, his parents were both from Mexico. Lopez started playing in bands at 15 and had a first hit with a cover of If I Had A Hammer, from his first album in 1963, followed by Lemon Tree in 1965.

He regularly performed in Las Vegas and had more hits with I'm Comin' Home, Cindy, Sally Was A Good Old Girl, Michael, Gonna Get Along Without Ya' Now and The Bramble Bush.

During the height of his popularity in the mid-1960s, he designed two guitars for the Gibson Guitar company which remain collector's items among musicians.

Lopez also appeared on television in Adam-12 and The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries. – Reuters