Most knew him as Freddy Fender. But his birth name is Baldemar Garza
Huerta. He was born in San Benito, Texas on June fourth, 1937. His parents Margarita (Garza) Huerta and Serapio Huerta were immigrants. As a kid Freddy traveled
with his parents during picking season and gained a passion for playing guitar.
While he worked in the fields around different people he became exposed to the
blues. When he was just ten years old he made his first appearance on the radio
at KGBT in Harlingen, Texas. He did a cover of the song “Paloma Querida” which
earned him a bucket of food worth ten dollars. At the age of sixteen, in 1953,
Freddy Fender dropped out of high school. He dropped out of high school to join
the Marine Corps. Freddy was in the marines for three years until he was
discharged for “bad conduct” that involved alcohol.
In the late fifties, Freddy began playing Texas honky tonks. In 1957 Freddy Fenders albums reached number one in Mexico and South America. The albums were on Falcon records and consisted of Spanish covers of Elvis Presley’s “Don’t Be Cruel” and Harry Belafonte’s “Jamaica Farewell”. In 1959 he was invited to Hollywood to sign to Imperial Records. Also 1957 Freddy Fender got married. On August 9,1957 Freddy Fender got married to Evangelina Garza. He was twenty one and she was sixteen. Evangelina was counter girl at a local diner. During that time he changed his name from “Baldemar Huerta” to “Freddy Fender.” He did this to gain the attention and recognition of the “gringo” audience since his initial fans were from Texas and Mexico. He picked the name Freddy because it was “alliterative.” He chose the name “Fender” because it was the headstock of his guitar. In 1958, on May 18,Freddy Fender had his first child. His name is Baldemar Huerta Jr. In 1960, "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" became a national hit. In 1961 on September 6, Freddy and Evangeline had a daughter named Tammy Loraine Huerta. Although his career seemed like it was prospering, he was set back when he was sent to prison for three years. He was sent to prison for the possession of two marijuana cigarettes. He was not the only one sent to prison, his bass player was too in the same account. This scandal took place May of 1960. When Freddy Fender was released from prison he spent the next five years in New Orleans. During his time in New Orleans he gained an interest in rhythm & blues and Cajun funk. In 1966, on December 22, Freddy and Evangeline had another son named Daniel Huerta. In 1969, Freddy Fender moved back to his hometown, San Benito where he worked as a mechanic. He also enrolled in Del Mar College. He wanted to pursue a degree in sociology. Since he had a new busy life, he only played music on weekends. In 1974 he signed a record deal with Huey P. Meaux the owner of Crazy Cajun label in Houston, Texas. By then Freddy Fenders music was directed into country and western. Although his style changed the foundation of his music still was based on his Hispanic roots. Freddy Fender was very proud of his Hispanic heritage. His first single with Meaux’s record label was “Before the next teardrop falls.” At first the song did really thrive but weeks later “Before the next tear drop falls” hit number one on the country and pop charts. In the remainder of the 70s Freddy Fender’s career thrived. In 1976, his single “Living it down” made it to number two on the charts. He also released “your cheatin’ heart” and “rock ‘n’ country” in 1976. The following year he released a Christmas album. In 1981, on January 1st, Freddy and Evangeline adopted there last child, a girl named Marla Ann Huerta. Through out his years Freddy Struggled with drugs.In 1985, Evangeline made Freddy Fender admit himself in a clinch due to his drug and alcohol problem. In 1993,after his song “chokin’ kind” reached the top charts, his fame fame began declining. He then worked on acting. In 1988 he came out in the film “The Milagro Beanfield War.” He played a corrupt mayor. In 1990, he formed the Tex-Med group Texas Tornados. His band partners were Doug Sahm, Flaco Jiménez and Augie Meyers. The Texas Tornadoes only lasted long enough to produce three albums. After they separated, Fender was signed to Warner Brothers Records as a soloist on the back of the group’s success. In 1993 Freddy and Evangelina divorced. In 1995, Freddy and Evangelina remarried. In 1998, he won a Grammy for best Mexican American performance. In February of 1999, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame after then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush of Texas endorsed him. His collection of Latin classics La Música De Baldemar Huerta won a Grammy award for Best Latin Pop Album. In 2001, Fender was reported as being unwell with hepatitis. He also had diabetes. In January 2002, at the age of 21, Marla donated a kidney to her father at University Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. In 2006, on August 3, Freddy Fender was diagnosed with incurable cancer. Before he died Freddy said "I feel very comfortable in my life," he told the Corpus Christi Caller-Times in August. "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." He died on October 14, 2006 in Corpus Christi, Texas with his family by his side."The legend, and the spirit, of Freddy lives on in San Benito, Texas."
In the late fifties, Freddy began playing Texas honky tonks. In 1957 Freddy Fenders albums reached number one in Mexico and South America. The albums were on Falcon records and consisted of Spanish covers of Elvis Presley’s “Don’t Be Cruel” and Harry Belafonte’s “Jamaica Farewell”. In 1959 he was invited to Hollywood to sign to Imperial Records. Also 1957 Freddy Fender got married. On August 9,1957 Freddy Fender got married to Evangelina Garza. He was twenty one and she was sixteen. Evangelina was counter girl at a local diner. During that time he changed his name from “Baldemar Huerta” to “Freddy Fender.” He did this to gain the attention and recognition of the “gringo” audience since his initial fans were from Texas and Mexico. He picked the name Freddy because it was “alliterative.” He chose the name “Fender” because it was the headstock of his guitar. In 1958, on May 18,Freddy Fender had his first child. His name is Baldemar Huerta Jr. In 1960, "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" became a national hit. In 1961 on September 6, Freddy and Evangeline had a daughter named Tammy Loraine Huerta. Although his career seemed like it was prospering, he was set back when he was sent to prison for three years. He was sent to prison for the possession of two marijuana cigarettes. He was not the only one sent to prison, his bass player was too in the same account. This scandal took place May of 1960. When Freddy Fender was released from prison he spent the next five years in New Orleans. During his time in New Orleans he gained an interest in rhythm & blues and Cajun funk. In 1966, on December 22, Freddy and Evangeline had another son named Daniel Huerta. In 1969, Freddy Fender moved back to his hometown, San Benito where he worked as a mechanic. He also enrolled in Del Mar College. He wanted to pursue a degree in sociology. Since he had a new busy life, he only played music on weekends. In 1974 he signed a record deal with Huey P. Meaux the owner of Crazy Cajun label in Houston, Texas. By then Freddy Fenders music was directed into country and western. Although his style changed the foundation of his music still was based on his Hispanic roots. Freddy Fender was very proud of his Hispanic heritage. His first single with Meaux’s record label was “Before the next teardrop falls.” At first the song did really thrive but weeks later “Before the next tear drop falls” hit number one on the country and pop charts. In the remainder of the 70s Freddy Fender’s career thrived. In 1976, his single “Living it down” made it to number two on the charts. He also released “your cheatin’ heart” and “rock ‘n’ country” in 1976. The following year he released a Christmas album. In 1981, on January 1st, Freddy and Evangeline adopted there last child, a girl named Marla Ann Huerta. Through out his years Freddy Struggled with drugs.In 1985, Evangeline made Freddy Fender admit himself in a clinch due to his drug and alcohol problem. In 1993,after his song “chokin’ kind” reached the top charts, his fame fame began declining. He then worked on acting. In 1988 he came out in the film “The Milagro Beanfield War.” He played a corrupt mayor. In 1990, he formed the Tex-Med group Texas Tornados. His band partners were Doug Sahm, Flaco Jiménez and Augie Meyers. The Texas Tornadoes only lasted long enough to produce three albums. After they separated, Fender was signed to Warner Brothers Records as a soloist on the back of the group’s success. In 1993 Freddy and Evangelina divorced. In 1995, Freddy and Evangelina remarried. In 1998, he won a Grammy for best Mexican American performance. In February of 1999, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame after then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush of Texas endorsed him. His collection of Latin classics La Música De Baldemar Huerta won a Grammy award for Best Latin Pop Album. In 2001, Fender was reported as being unwell with hepatitis. He also had diabetes. In January 2002, at the age of 21, Marla donated a kidney to her father at University Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. In 2006, on August 3, Freddy Fender was diagnosed with incurable cancer. Before he died Freddy said "I feel very comfortable in my life," he told the Corpus Christi Caller-Times in August. "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." He died on October 14, 2006 in Corpus Christi, Texas with his family by his side."The legend, and the spirit, of Freddy lives on in San Benito, Texas."
http://www.legacy.com/ns/freddy-fender-obituary/19550662
http://www.cityofsanbenito.com/250/Freddy-Fender-Museum
http://www.cityofsanbenito.com/250/Freddy-Fender-Museum
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