MEXICO CITY — José José, the Mexican crooner known as the “Prince of Song,” whose melancholic love ballads earned him an adoring fan base and whose dozens of albums sold millions of copies around the world, has died at a hospital in South Florida. He was 71.

The Mexican artists’ association ANDI confirmed the death in a Twitter post on Saturday but did not specify when he died. Multiple media outlets said the cause was pancreatic cancer, which was first diagnosed in 2017.

José José sang technically difficult songs with a powerful voice that ranged over a wide register, including baritone and lyric tenor. He climbed to the top of the Latin charts in the 1970s with songs like “El Triste” (“The Sad Man”) and “Amar y Querer” (“Love and Want”).

His yearning, heartfelt songs were enduringly popular and covered by contemporary artists like Marc Anthony and Cristian Castro.