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Freddy Fender




Freddy Fender, born '''Baldemar Huerta''' in San Benito, Texas on June 4 , 1938 , is a Tejano , Country , and Rock And Roll musician, known for his work as a solo artist and in the groups Los Super Seven and The Texas Tornados .


EARLY YEARS

As a child, Baldemar and his parents travelled throughout the United States as migrant farm hands. At the age of 16, Baldemar quit school and started a three year hitch in the United States Marines . He returned to Texas and played Bars and Honky-tonk s throughout the south, mostly to Latino audiences. In 1957 , he released two songs to moderate success in Mexico and South America , Spanish versions of Elvis Presley's " Don't Be Cruel ", and Harry Belafonte's " Jamaica Farewell ". In 1959 , Baldemar changed his name to Freddy Fender. He took '' Fender '' from the headstock of his Guitar , and ''Freddy'' because it sounded good to him. He then headed for California .


INITIAL SUCCESS

In 1959, Fender recorded "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights." The song became popular in 1959 , but he was beset by legal troubles after he and a band member were arrested for Narcotic s possession. After a two year Prison term, Fender ended up in New Orleans, Louisiana , where he would spend the next five years.

By the end of the 1960s , Fender was back in Texas working as a Mechanic , and attending a local junior college, while only playing music on the weekends.


NUMBER ONE POP AND COUNTRY

In 1974 , Fender recorded "Before The Next Teardrop Falls." The single was selected for national distribution, and became a number one hit on the Billboard Country and Pop charts. His next four singles, including a remake of "Wasted Days", all hit the number one spot on the Billboard Country charts.

During the next few years, Fender had several major country hits, including the No. 1 hits "Secret Love" (1975) and "You'll Lose a Good Thing" (1976).


TEXAS TORNADOS

In the 1990s , Fender teamed up with fellow Tex-Mex musicians Doug Sahm , Flaco Jimenez and Augie Myers to form the Texas Tornados , whose work was widely acclaimed. Following the death of Sahm, the production of the Tornadoes slowed.


FENDER TODAY

Most recently, Freddy Fender has signed a contract with Warner/Reprise Records, and continues to sing, play and tour from his base in Texas despite health problems.


PARTIAL DISCOGRAPHY


:#I'm Not A Fool Anymore
:#Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends
:#You Can't Get There From Here
:#I Love My Rancho Grande
:#Wasted Days And Wasted Nights
:#I Almost Called Your Name
:#Before The Next Teardrop Falls
:#Wild Side Of Life
:#After The Fire Is Gone
:#Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye

:#I'm Not A Fool Anymore
:#Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends
:#You Can't Get There From Here
:#I Love My Rancho Grande
:#Wasted Days And Wasted Nights
:#I Almost Called Your Name
:#Before The Next Teardrop Falls
:#Wild Side Of Life
:#After The Fire Is Gone
  • 1975 - ''Are You Ready For Freddy?''

  • :#Secret Love

:#Loving Cajun Style
:#Take Your Time
:#I Can't Put My Arms Around a Memory
:#Cielito Lindo Is My Lady
:#Begging to You
:#What'd I Say
:#How Much Is That Dog in the Window
:#Teardrops in My Heart
:#You Came in the Winter of My Life
:#I'm Not Through Loving You Yet
:#Goodbye Clothes
  • 1975 - ''Since I Met You Baby''

  • :#Since I Met You Baby

:#A Man Can Cry
:#Louisiana Blues
:#Crazy Baby
:#I'm Gonna Leave
:#Little Mama
:#You're Something Else For Me
:#Too Late To Rememdy
:#Find Somebody New
:#Go On Baby (I Can Go On Without You)
:#Wild Side Of Life
  • 1976 - ''Rock 'N' Country''

  • :#Vaya Con Dios

:#You'll Lose a Good Thing
:#I Need You So
:#Mathilda
:#My Happiness
:#Just Out of Reach of My Two Open Arms
:#Rains Came
:#Take Her a Message
:#Since I Met You Baby
:#Big Boss Man
:#I Can't Help It If I'm Still in Love With You
  • 1976 - ''Your Cheatin' Heart''

  • :#Let The Good Times Roll

:#High School Dance
:#You Don't Have To Go
:#Lovers' Quarrel
:#Three Wishes
:#Your Cheatin' Heart
:#Crazy Kat
:#I Got A Woman
:#Whip It On Me
  • 1976 - ''If You're Ever In Texas''

  • :#Don't Do It Darling

:#It's All In The Game
:#San Antonio Lady
:#What A Difference A Day Made
:#Living It Down
:#Pass Me By (If You're Only Passing Through)
:#If You're Ever In Texas
:#Sometimes
:#Just One Time
:#It's Too Late
:#50's Medley: Donna / For Sentimental Reasons /You're Mine / Cherry Pie / Sincerely / Earth Angel / Angel Baby / Daddy's Home
  • 1977 - ''The Best of Freddy Fender''

  • :#Before The Next Teardrop Falls

:#Wasted Days And Wasted Nights
:#Secret Love
:#You'll Lose A Good Thing
:#Vaya Con Dios
:#Living It Down
:#Sugar Coated Love
:#Wild Side Of Life
:#Since I Met You Baby
:#The Rains Came
:#I Love My Rancho Grande
:#Mathilda
  • 1977 - ''If You Don't Love Me''

  • :#We'll Take Our Last Walk Tonight

:#Louisiana Woman
:#How Are Things With You
:#If You're Looking for a Fool
:#If That's the Way You Want It
:#If You Don't Love Me
:#Think About Me
:#I Don't Want to Be Lonely
:#Faking the Feeling
:#Love Rules the Heart
:#Your Loving Couldn't Take the Walking Out of My Shoes
:#I Don't Dream About You Anymore
  • 1977 - ''Merry Christmas / Feliz Navidad''

  • :#Please Come Home for Christmas

:#Pretty Paper
:#Love Gets Better at Christmas
:#If Christmas Comes to Your House
:#Blue Christmas
:#Christmas in the Valley
:#Santa! Don't Pass Me By
:#When They Ring Those Christmas Bells
:#I'll Be on the Chimney
:#Natividad (The Infant Song)
  • 1978 - ''Swamp Gold''

  • 1979 - ''Tex-Mex''

  • :#You're Turning Down The Flame Of Love To Low

:#Leaning
:#If That's All That's Worrying You
:#Just Because
:#I Really Don't Want To Know
:#Walking Piece Of Heaven
:#She Came To The Valley
:#I'm A Fool To Care
:#She's Gone
:#Sweet Summer Day
:#Forgive
:#Cajun Stomp
  • 1979 - ''The Texas Balladeer''

  • :#Yours

:#Squeeze Box
:#My Special Prayer
:#Walk Under A Snake
:#Trapped
:#Share Your Love
:#He's Got Nothing On Me But You
:#Gotta Travel On
:#Turn Around
:#Rock Down In My Shoe
  • 1980 - ''Together We Drifted Apart''

  • 1982 - ''The Border'' Soundtrack

  • ---Across The Borderline (with Ry Cooder)

  • 1991 - ''The Freddy Fender Collection'' (re-recordings)

  • :#Wasted Days and Wasted Nights

:#It's All in the Game
:#Since I Met You Baby
:#I Can't Stop Loving You
:#Before the Next Teardrop Falls
:#Tell It Like It Is
:#Secret Love
:#You'll Lose a Good Thing
:#Pledging My Love
:#Vaya con Dios
  • 1991 - ''Favorite Ballads''

  • :#Wasted Days and Wasted Nights

:#Release Me
:#Welcome To My World
:#Talk to Me
:#I Can't Stop Loving You
:#Since I Met You Baby
:#It's All In The Game
:#Please Help Me I'm Falling
:#Secret Love
:#Tell It Like It Is
:#Pledging My Love
:#Before The Next Teardrop Falls
:#Green Green Grass of Home
:#You Lose a Good Thing
:#Crying Time
:#She Thinks I Still Care
:#Help Me Make It Through The Night
:# I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
:#Vaya Con Dios
:#Together Again
:#Make The World Go Away
:#You Win Again
:#Funny How Time Slips Away
:#Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye


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