Buenos Aires , Argentina ( CNN ) -- Roberto Sanchez , the Argentine singer known as `` Sandro '' and who drew comparisons to Elvis Presley , died Monday night after complications from surgery , his doctor told reporters . He was 64 . Sandro 's romantic ballads made him a star in the 1960s , but he first found the limelight as rock and roll singer who imitated Elvis ' style . In his long career , Sandro recorded dozens of albums and also acted in 16 movies , according to the Web site Rock.com.ar . He is considered one of the pioneers of the Spanish Rock movement . The singer was also known as `` El Gitano , '' or `` the Gypsy , '' because of his family 's Roma roots . Some accounts place Sandro as the first Latino artist to sell out Madison Square Garden in New York . Sandro died at the Italian Hospital in Mendoza , Argentina , where he was being treated for complications from a heart and lung transplant last month . He is survived by his wife , Olga Garaventa . Funeral arrangements are pending .
Argentine singer Juan Sanchez dies at age 64 following surgery complications , his doctor said . Performance style in the 1980s drew comparisons to Elvis Presley . ` ` Sandro '' was considered one of pioneers of Latin rock music movement . Singer also called ` ` El Gitano '' or ` ` The Gypsy '' because of his family 's Roma roots .