Freddy Fender was a Mexican American singer born Baldemar Garza Huerta in San Benito, Texas, on June 4, 1937, and he passed away on October 14, 2006. He became known for blending country, rock, Tejano and Latin sounds into something unique that crossed cultural and language barriers. His big breakthrough came with the bilingual ballad “Before the Next Teardrop Falls,” which went to number one on both the pop and country charts in 1975.
He also wrote and recorded “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights,” which had been a regional hit earlier but became a national success as well. In one early nightclub incident, he suffered a knife wound in his neck during a fight, leaving him with a scar as a reminder of tough years on the road. And yes, he did wear a wig on stage for part of his career; his well-known “big hair” look was in part a styled or artificial wig to keep up the look that audiences expected.
Early Life
He was born on June 4, 1937 in San Benito, Texas to his parents Margarita and Serapio Huerta. His family worked in the cotton fields and other labor jobs, and from a young age he was around music and community gatherings. At age 10 he made his first radio appearance singing on a local station, showing his early interest in singing. He left high school at age 16 and soon afterward enlisted in the U.S. Marines for service starting in 1953.
Career
In the late 1950s, Freddy Fender began his recording career under names like “El Bebop Kid” and “Scotty Wayne,” releasing Spanish language rock songs for Latino audiences. He recorded the ballad “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights” in 1959, which had regional success. After some personal and legal troubles, Fender returned to music with renewed focus.
His major breakthrough came in 1975 when his bilingual hit “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” reached number one on both the country and pop charts. The song featured both English and Spanish lyrics, which helped Fender cross over into mainstream country music while retaining his Latino roots. He then followed with other country hits like “Secret Love,” “You’ll Lose a Good Thing,” and a rework of “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights.”
In the late 1980s and beyond, Fender expanded his work by joining super groups like Texas Tornados and Los Super Seven, blending Tejano, country, rock and blues sounds. His career thus spanned decades and many genres, and he became seen as a pioneer for Latino artists in country and popular music.
Death
In his later years, he suffered from kidney and liver problems and in 2000 he was diagnosed with hepatitis C. He died on October 14, 2006 at his home in Corpus Christi, Texas. The cause of death was lung cancer. He was buried with military honours at the San Benito Cemetery in his hometown of San Benito, Texas.
Freddy Fender Net Worth
At the time of his death, Freddy Fender’s net worth was estimated to be around $3 million. His income came from several sources, including the sale of hit singles and albums such as Before the Next Teardrop Falls and Wasted Days and Wasted Nights, as well as from his live concert tours across the United States. He also earned money through his work with the music groups Texas Tornados and Los Super Seven, which added to his overall success and wealth.
