At 21, Fernandez decided to make his living by singing. Initially, he sang for tips at the Amanecer Tapatio, serenaded drivers who sat waiting to move in traffic, and continued with "La Calandria Musical." From there he went on to sing with some of Mexico's best-known mariachi groups, such as Amanecer de Pepe Mendoza and the Mariachi of Jose Luis Aguilar. It was through these groups that he met Felipe Arriaga.  Arriaga encouraged Fernandez to move to Mexico City, where he became a major singer on Mexico's No. 1 XEX radio station. It was through this medium that Fernandez was able to reach larger audiences and achieve initial fame for himself.

Fernandez believed in fulfilling his professional duties and not disappointing his audiences. The night his father died was one of those occasions. He was ready to go on stage when he received news that his father has died. Fernandez went on with the performance. That night, he expressed such deep feelings through his singing that audience members, who were not told of his father's death until after he had left the stage, were in awe. As a result of this performance, many people started to compare him to some of Mexico's great singers, such as Pedro Infante, Javier Solis, José Alfredo Jimenez and Jorge Negrete.

Fernandez remains very active in his 60's, playing to large crowds and having an ample discography that makes him one of Latin music's highest-grossing artists.  See Vicente Fernandez LIVE!  Purchase your Vicente Fernandez tickets today!