The talented Baldemar Huerta, better known to music fans as…

Sunday, October 15, 2006

The talented Baldemar Huerta, better known to music fans as Freddy Fender, passed away yesterday after a short battle with lung cancer. He was the son of migrant workers, born in Texas on June 4, 1937. His mother bought him his first guitar at the age of ten, and soon after he was bringing home prize money in local singing competitions. At the age of 16 he enlisted in the United States Marines, and served for 3 years.
I was surprised to discover that my husband did not know who Freddy Fender was when I told him he had died. This leads me to believe there are others out there who also have no clue. In his lifetime Freddy enjoyed three separate music careers – in the ‘50’s, ‘70’s, and ‘90’s. In 1975, he became the first artist to have a hit top the country and pop charts the same week. It was that year, and that song, “Before the Next Teardrop Falls,” that introduced me and many of my generation to Freddy Fender.
He had two more songs after that one in the ‘70’s that went straight to number one after their release. He acted in movies, and won wide acclaim for his appearance in the movie “The Milagro Beanfield War,” with Robert Redford. In the 1990’s he formed the Tex-Mex group “Texas Tornadoes,” the band that garnered a Grammy that same year.
Freddy Fender leaves behind his beloved wife, Vangie, whom he married when they were mere teenagers, and a diverse group of fans. Rest in peace Freddy, we’ll miss you.

Yesterday I had an outrageous number of Footprints, and most of them came from California and Pennsylvania. I don't have a lock on my Xanga as I don't have a problem with anyone reading what I have posted publicly. I just can't see what anyone can find here that's all that interesting! Anyway, welcome to all those new to my blog, lurkers and commenters alike.

Be a pirate, or just act like one:

Click to join!
Afternoon Update:
I'm taking it easy this afternoon, working on some projects on the computer, doing some graphic design, and building a website. All-in-all it's enjoyable. I'm feeling ever so slightly better, but I'm excited about that, even if it's just a small improvement.
I will do something a little bit productive in the house today - off to do some laundry...I think that's about all I'm capable of at the moment.
Evening Update:
I've added some new smileys/emoticons in the comment section. Please, have a look and tell me what you think!

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Comments (59)

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Freddy Fender, never heard about, maybe it's a male thing.
- 10/15/2006 10:34 AM
- greenray (message)
- reply
I would have been the frst to comment but I was watching Freddy's beautiful song. It made me all sentimental, as it invoked memories of my youth and time with my parents and stuff. Thanks Lisa. That was cool.
- 10/15/2006 10:44 AM
- Xcholo4u (message)
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I watched it twice.
- 10/15/2006 10:45 AM
- Xcholo4u (message)
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How funny! I'd just subbed to your site and came back to mine to see you'd left a comment. We like so many of the same xangans. Yes I noticed you were born the same year as Number Two Son. Thanks for the entry about Freddy Fender. I loved the video. I remember him well. May he RIP. And how refreshing to learn that he and his wife remained together all those years.
- 10/15/2006 11:08 AM
- fratmom (message)
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RYC: I guess we have the same stalker!!!
- 10/15/2006 11:16 AM
- DaBombMom615 (message)
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Damn .. I never thought about Arnold ... he better not be baaack or I'll have to open up a can of whoop ass! :devil:
- 10/15/2006 11:20 AM
- DaBombMom615 (message)
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California and Pennsylvania, same here. I wonder if it is a search engine thing
- 10/15/2006 11:47 AM
- trunthepaige (message)
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Ok, now I'm jealous....you have enough messages to blur out and I have none. :tongue:

I, however, am a good wench and joined the ring days ago :big grin:
- 10/15/2006 11:54 AM
- TheGreenPanther (message)
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I had an enormous amount of footprints too this past week. I had over 1362 in the week. I get a lot of footprints from California, Pennsylvania, Hong Kong and from the blogring.com. We arent even talking yet. I had a 15,000 keep reading my post a while back about Raising Boys. Beat that one. I didnt get that many comments but still get footprints every day that someone googled it and read it.
- 10/15/2006 1:00 PM
- oh_mother_may_I (message)
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Sad to hear about Freddy.
- 10/15/2006 1:01 PM
- oh_mother_may_I (message)
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Psssst... Ya know it mght be our fan base growing. You know, our campaign groupies... LOL

Have a great day hon.
- 10/15/2006 1:30 PM
- Weighly_World (message)
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Can't imagine having that much traffic on my site.........congrats darlin'..........seems to be a lot of footprints from overseas on mine as well

Had heard about Freddie Fender ....your post was a very nice tribute.......not sure how anyone missed the guy if they were old enough to listen to the radio in the 70's.......

RYC...yes, a trip is planned for Thanksgiving and had to edit the site cause I forgot to say the twins got their green belts yesterday..........and were moved up to sparring class with blackbelts...................
- 10/15/2006 2:18 PM
- Alive_in_Vegas (message)
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Over 3600 footprints for the week!!! Wow, you are getting popular.
- 10/15/2006 2:22 PM
- TheTheologiansCafe (message)
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Pretty good. Catch me on IM.
- 10/15/2006 2:26 PM
- TheTheologiansCafe (message)
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Hey... been reading back a bit trying to catch up! But with you its damn hard.... LOL
Ok... Jaden should should be proud of being different... and someday he will be self confidant enough to be. And way cool on the gold belt! BTW I have nieces that are part filipino! They are beautiful. I've always said that most the bi/multi racial people I've ever seen are gorgeous!
Bummer on not getting to hook-up with either of the xanga peeps! I hope sometime we'll be able to meet being in the same state and all LOL
Oh yeah.... and those cali-phili-google visits. I get alot(for me, LOL) of cali ones.... weird!
*HUGZ*
- 10/15/2006 2:37 PM
- too_goofy (message)
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I was not very familiar with Freddy Fender myself...
- 10/15/2006 3:01 PM
- Leonidas (message)
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I too had alot of footprints also, for me anyways, racked up 16, yep featured content here I come.

Can't believe people don't know Freddie Fender, I only remember the tear drop song but it was huge
- 10/15/2006 3:25 PM
- Captive_Man (message)
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I don't Freddy Fender either
- 10/15/2006 3:53 PM
- dune2 (message)
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Your husband didn't know who Freddy Fender was? I was thinking maybe some younger people may not know, but not any of us old folks.

By the way, I've been meaning to let you know that I blame YOU for my "cold". I was fine, until you got sick.
- 10/15/2006 4:17 PM
- Spacey1 (message)
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I had a lot from California and Pennsylvania too. Someone must be stalking the hot chicks of Xanga!
- 10/15/2006 4:19 PM
- jeddy_three (message)
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Yeah stalking all us hot chicks! Oh wait...make that hot chicks and scrumptious sexy cholo bitches!
- 10/15/2006 4:30 PM
- Xcholo4u (message)
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Your husband is not alone, until I read your post I thought Fender was just a make of guitar.
- 10/15/2006 5:38 PM
- ElevenStones (message)
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test

:big grin: :smiling pirate: :aargh:
- 10/15/2006 5:51 PM
- CynaraJane (message)
- reply
^^ I love them...so you! You're a genius!
- 10/15/2006 5:57 PM
- Xcholo4u (message)
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You need to make a "pervo" or "horny pirate" too! No idea how...but you can do it! Maybe an animated drooling one?
- 10/15/2006 5:59 PM
- Xcholo4u (message)
- reply