George Gongora/Caller-Times file
Freddy Fender unveils his star
during a June 4, 2004, ceremony
at the South Texas Music Walk of
Fame at Water Street Market.
Posted on 10/16/2006 9:18:05 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
Grammy Award-winning musician Freddy Fender, who topped the Billboard charts in the '60s, '70s and '80s with singles that included "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" and "Before The Next Teardrop Falls," died at noon Saturday at his Corpus Christi home surrounded by family.
Fender was diagnosed with lung cancer earlier this year and returned to his home for hospice care on Wednesday. He was 69.
"Since last year, Freddy got closer to the Lord than ever," said longtime friend Ruben Rivera, who visited Fender's family Saturday. "He always spoke about the Lord."
Ron Rogers, a family spokesman, said the family has asked for privacy. Fender will be returned to his hometown of San Benito for funeral and memorial services. Arrangements were pending.
Before Fender's illness curtailed his activities, he attended monthly Mighty Warriors of God meetings at Luby's Cafeteria with Rivera.
"He was full of joy and was encouraging the young people to finish school and stay out of trouble," said Rivera, who had known Fender since 1975.
"I enjoyed those times he attended the meetings with us and then we'd go driving. He loved cruising and he'd be hearing his own CDs and I would ask him, 'Freddy, why are you hearing yourself?' And he'd say, 'When you get to be my age, you've got to hear your own music over and over so you won't forget it.' "
But Fender's career - one of successes, mixed with hardships - has left a legacy in music and beyond that won't soon be forgotten.
He received three Grammy Awards as a solo artist and with the Texas Tornados and Los Super Seven, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999 and he appeared in films including "The Milagro Beanfield War," directed by Robert Redford.
Fender was born Baldemar Huerta on June 4, 1937, in San Benito to a family of migrant laborers.
After he served in the Marines, Fender began his music career in the late '50s performing as El Be-Bop Kid, Eddie Medina and Scotty Wayne before taking on the moniker Freddy Fender.
In 1960, the same year he first recorded "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights," he was sent to prison in Louisiana for three years for marijuana possession. He also had abused alcohol.
He came back with two No. 1 hits in the mid-'70s with "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" and the re-released "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights."
In June, Fender, who was a diabetic and had Hepatitis C, learned he had incurable cancer, tumors on his lungs that spread to his brain and other parts of his body.
Fender already had come back from serious health problems, receiving a kidney from his daughter Marla Garcia in 2002 and a liver transplant two years later.
"We almost lost him," Rogers said.
In late September, he sought treatment at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Southwestern Regional Medical Center in Tulsa, Okla., and later developed a blood infection. He then went to University Hospital in San Antonio.
"When you are young, you can hack a lot of stuff, but when you get older, your body can't take too much," said Fender's youngest brother, Mel Fender, the day before his brother's death.
Those close to Fender said the outgoing singer-songwriter they knew as "Balde" never lost touch with his roots. Despite his fame, he made people feel at ease, was easy to talk to and had an upbeat sense of humor - even when he was ill. He also was fond of motorcycles, old cars and loved to cook and prepare migas for breakfast.
Bill Glass, who runs Fender's Web site, learned of Fender's other loves the first time they met: Fender took Glass into his garage to see his motorcycles.
"He (loved) to ride and that's one of the reasons he liked Corpus - because it's flat and it's a really nice riding place," he said.
Rogers recalled Fender's love for home-cooked meals and their searches for good Mexican restaurants.
"In and around the Valley, we would look for a little hometown kind of place with lots of cars outside," said Rogers, chairman of the future Freddy Fender Museum in San Benito.
"Even though Freddy was known throughout the world, he was still Baldemar Huerta from San Benito, and he still loved his roots," Rogers said. "I think that's why he connected with so many people. He wasn't pretentious.
"He's like a brother to me, but he's like a brother to a lot of people. He's just such a warm, kind, gentle person. I admire him and I love him and of course, love his music."
Fender's last show was New Year's Eve in Los Angeles. All his bookings afterward were canceled because of his illness.
"There will never be another Freddy Fender," said Augie Meyers, a former Texas Tornado who had known Fender since 1958 and played with him on his last gig. "I love the guy. He's got a voice that nobody else has."
In November 2005, the remaining Texas Tornados (Doug Sahm died in 1999) hit the studio and recorded 12 tunes, but Meyers said the album wasn't released because of Fender's ailing health.
"We joked all the time, and I miss his joking," Meyers said. We were always kidding each other. There's so many memories of all that. I would love for him to call me up tomorrow and say, 'Let's go play a gig together.' "
Survivors include Fender's wife, Vangie Huerta; sons Baldemar "Sonny" Huerta Jr. of Corpus Christi and Daniel Huerta of Jacksonville, Fla.; and daughters Tammy Huerta Mallini of Houston and Marla Huerta Garcia of Victoria.
Contact Cassandra Hinojosa at 886-3617 or hinojosac@ caller.com
Freddy Fender unveils his star
during a June 4, 2004, ceremony
at the South Texas Music Walk of
Fame at Water Street Market.
I started working at a truckstop by the interstate when I was 16 years old. All that country music used to drive me nuts. Freddy Fender was one of many they played back then. I appreciate and like it now though.
Fender "held on to his roots" so well he Anglicized his name to succeed.
...Fender began his music career in the late '50s performing as El Be-Bop Kid, Eddie Medina and Scotty Wayne before taking on the moniker Freddy Fender. ...
...when you get older, your body can't take too much," said Fender's youngest brother, Mel Fender...
So I guess his brother changed his name too.
I was a teenager when his music became popular. Playing "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" and "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" was a sure way to get people to get on the dance floor and dance (where i grew up, we had dances which kids could attend).
Thanks for posting, those two songs are some of my all time favourites.
"I feel very comfortable in my life," said Fender, who prays daily. "I’m one year away from 70 and I’ve had a good run. I really believe I’m OK. In my mind and in my heart, I feel OK. I cannot complain that I haven’t lived long enough, but I’d like to live longer."
From the Caller-Times, August 2, 2006.
two No. 1 hits in the mid-'70s with "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" and the re-released "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights."
...
Thanks for the music and memories , FReddy FendeR, RIP.
Semper Fi
God bless Freddy Fender.
Maybe now the Country Music Hall of Fame will recognize him.
Don't forget all the great music with the Texas Tornadoes!
A few friends of mine worked a few movie and video projects with him. They had nothing but respect for him.
I think that the Country Music Hall of Fame should take his whole career into consideration and induct him ASAP.
Prayers for the family
US Marines, S. Korea '54-'56.
One of the all time classics. R.I.P. Freddy.
He was a very nice and accessable guy, always happy to talk with you -- he would even do requests on his guitar! No star attitude in the least. And anyone who was a friend of Doug Sahm and Augie Meyers is okay in my book. RIP Freddy.
RIP Freddy, prayers and condolences to family and friends.
Yea, well that was the 1950s and early sixties, things were a lot different then. A guy named Baldemar Huerta was going to have to change it to something, and at that time, something less "ethnic" would have been best for his professional career
Or do you also think a guy from Cincinnati named Leonard Slye who also went by Dick Weston as well as an Iowa boy by the name of Marion Morrison, shouldn't have changed to something more salable for their roles as movie cowboys?
Roy Rodgers was born Leonard Slye.
John Wayne was born Marion Morrison.
I guess so. Freddie was born as Federico Fendero.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.