Singer Freddy Fender Dies At Age 69
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Musician Freddy Fender died Saturday at his home in Corpus Christi. He was 69.
The “Bebop Kid” of the Texas-Mexico border later turned his twangy tenor into the smash country ballad “Before the Next Teardrop Falls.”
Fender was diagnosed with lung cancer in early 2006. A family spokesman says he died with his family at his bedside. Fender won three Grammy’s during his music career. Over the years, he grappled with drug and alcohol abuse, was treated for diabetes and underwent a kidney transplant.
Fender hit it big in 1975 after some regional success, years of struggling — and a stint in prison — when “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” climbed to Number One on the pop and country charts.
He also found success playing with the Texas Tornados, who had one of their first performances here in Austin at Antone’s. “It’s a great loss for rock and roll. Freddy did one of my songs a song called ??Tell Me’ on the last Texas Tornadoes record.
“For me it’s the biggest honor of my life to have Freddy Fender sing one of my songs and he had a God given gift with his voice,” musician Joe King Carrasco said. Fender will be brought back to his hometown of San Benito for a funeral and memorial services.
Details on the arrangements are pending.
Copyright 2006 Associated Press, All rights reserved.
