Baldemar Huerta aka Freddy Fender

Only the true aficionados of his genre of music know who Baldemar Huerta is, many of you in your fifties will know Freddy Fender from his big crossover hits “Before the Next Teardrop Falls.” This hit came in 1975 after years of regional recognition. He had to take the name Freddy Fender to gain access to the wider Anglo rock and roll market of the fifties. He died yesterday on Corpus Christi Texas after a lengthy bout with cancer. In many ways he was a pioneer. We recognize the African American routes of rock and roll but the Latino/Mexican influence is largely ignored. He represents a whole genre of music that was regional and ethnic in nature, commonly called Tex Mex but more properly called Conjunto music. This music represents the cultural melting of the southwest borderlands, most specifically the Texas hill country and south Texas. Here there was a blend of the German Polka from the German settlers and the corridas (love songs) of the Mexican cowboys. It is a beautiful music blending the guitar and the accordion. In the 1950’s led by Freddy Fender, Richie Valens of La Bamba fame, Little Joe and La Familia the sound began to find its way into rock & roll. Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs (Wooly Bully), Sams real name was Domingo Samuido along with the Sir Douglas Quintet are good examples of the sound infused into rock and roll. In the nineties Freddy Fender (far left), Augie Meyer (back in sun glasses), Flaco Jumenez ( on the the right - Best accordion player you have ever heard, has played backup to many of the great musicians of our time) and Doug Sahm (front) formed the Texas Tornadoes (see picture) I was fortunate to have dinner with Augie Meyer a few years ago and spend several hours talking about the music, Freddy Fender and how it all evolved. What an experience! If you get a chance you listen to Baldemar Huerta sing “Noche de Ronda.” I am going to listen to it now Freddy thanks for a great life, your music lives on.