| |
San Benito's
Own Freddy Fenderby
Ken Rudine |
| "San
Benito - Hometown of Freddy Fender"
Photo courtesy Ken Rudine, February
2006 |
| I
can understand
why some people may not know much about Freddy Fender, after all I count four
other names he has performed under and his career has started and stopped several
times. But there is no doubt Freddy is a true Texas grown talent that has left,
and continues to leave, his mark on Texas music history. When he sings his songs
in alternate Spanish and English it demonstrates his power and talent. |
| | The
Grande Theatre in Harlingen
TE photo, 2002 |
| Freddy Fender is probably
the greatest singer, writer and musician of Mexican-American heritage. Born Baldemar
Huerta, in 1957, he started his musical career as El Be- Bop Kid, then
Freddy Fender, later Eddie Medina and finally Scotty Wayne
before he settling on Freddy Fender. He won a $10 tub of food (first prize) in
an amateur talent contest at the Grand Theater in Harlingen.
At 16, he joined the Marines for a three year stint. He returned to San
Benito in the late 1950s, becoming a popular performer. He wrote Ay Amor
(Holy One) in 1955. When this was released in the Spring of 1957, the flip
side was No Seas Cruel (Don't Be Cruel). Freddy wrote and recorded Secret
Love which was also recorded by Doris Day. |
| "This
water tower is in his hometown of San Benito on Hwy 77, 8 miles south of the State
of Texas Tourist facility where Hwy 77 intersects with US 83." - Ken Rudine
|
His
records played in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Mexico, Central and South America
and were credited with initiating Tejano music. "No Seas Cruel" went to
number one in Mexico and throughout South America. Hispanic rock and roll was
born, and Freddy Fender was its Padre.
As a guest at Louisiana's Angola
State Penitentiary (for marijuana possession) Freddy served three years - writing
at least three songs while an inmate. Released by Governor Jimmie Davis and barred
by his parole from being involved with the music industry for awhile, he returned
to San Benito where he
went back to school and became a sociology major. It was in 1974 while Freddy
was living in Corpus
Christi, that he recorded Before The Next Teardrop Falls. His follow-up
single was Wasted Days and Wasted Nights. Since I Met You, Baby
was Freddy's third cross-over single. Freddy is part of the Texas Tornados - an
on-again-off-again project. Freddy is one of a handful of voices like Willie
Nelson, George Strait, Roy
Orbison, The Big
Bopper and Buddy Holly - voices that define the "Texas Sound." |
Freddy Fender
ForumAny
wishing to share information on Freddy Fender or contribute to our Texas Music
section, please contact
us. |
|
| 20th
Century Masters - The Millennium Collection |
| Before
the Next Teardrop Falls |
|
