Freddy Fender

At 69 years old, Freddy Fender has this physical status:

Freddy Fender (born Baldemar Garza Huerta; June 4, 1937 – October 14, 2006) was an American Tejano, country, and rock and roll musician best known for his work as a solo artist and in the bands Los Super Seven and the Texas Tornados.

He is best known for his 1975 hits "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" and his subsequent version of his own "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights."

Early years

Fender was born in San Benito, Texas, United States, to Margarita Garza and her Mexican husband Serno Huerta. He made his first radio appearance on Harlingen, Texas, radio station KGBT, on September 10, singing a then-hit "Paloma Querida."

In 1953, Fender dropped out of high school at the age of 16, and when he turned 17, he joined the United States Marine Corps for three years. He spent time in the brig on several occasions as a result of his alcohol use, and in August 1956, he was court-martialed and released with the rank of private (E-1). Fender said he was given a general discharge after being sent a letter from the US Department of the Navy alleging that he had been wrongfully discharged dishonorably because of alcoholism. He returned to Texas and performed in nightclubs, bars, and honky-tonks all over the south, mainly to Latino audiences. El Bebop Kid, a 1957 musician, recorded two songs with modest success in Mexico and South America: Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel" (as "No Seas Cruel") and Harry Belafonte's "Jamaica Farewell" (as "No Seas Cruel) and "Jamaica Farewell" (as "No Seas Cruel") and "Jamaica Fare "Your Cold Heart" was Hank Williams' "Cold, Cold Heart" on Spanish; he also recorded his own Spanish version of "Cold, Cold Heart" ("Your Cold Heart").

Eddie con los Shades was known for his rockabilly music and his cool persona. He legally changed his name from Baldemar Huerta to Freddy Fender in 1958. He borrowed the name Fender from the guitar and amplifier, as well as Freddy because the alliteration was sounded right, and would "sell better with Gringos." He then moved to California.

Source

Honors and awards

• Academy of Country Music (1975) — "Most Promising Male Vocalist"
• Country Music Association (1975) — "Single of the Year" for "Before the Next Teardrop Falls"
• Grammy nominations in 1975, 1976, and 1997
• Tejano Music Hall of Fame (1987)
• Inaugural Balls — Presidents Bill Clinton and George H. W. Bush
• Grammy Award for Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album (1990) — for the Texas Tornados
• European Walk of Fame (1993) — in Rotterdam, the Netherlands
• Freddy Fender Lane (1994) — dedicated in his hometown of San Benito, Texas
• Hollywood Walk of Fame (1999)
• Texas Music Hall Of Fame (1999)
• Nashville Sidewalk of Stars (1999)
• Grammy Award "Best Mexican/American Performance" (1999) — for Los Super Seven
• Louisiana Hall Of Fame (2001)
• Grammy Award "Best Latin Pop" (2002) — for La Musica de Baldemar Huerta
• Annual Freddy Fender Humanitarian Award
• The Freddy Fender Water Tower in San Benito besides STEAM Academy (2009)