This is a little macabre. I was contacted about this photo of Freddy Fender as a candidate to use for his grave stone.

Unfortunately, I never kept the full resolution version of this photo. Another lesson learned…

I took this photo from my keyboard rig during a Freddy Fender show in Laughlin, NV at Don Laughlin’s Riverside Resort and Casino. I didn’t regularly take pictures from the stage. In fact I think it might be the only one I ever took during a show. It must have been during one of his talking segments and I happened to have my camera with me.

I remember when I looked at it later I thought it looked a little “other worldly” – like Freddy facing eternity. I don’t know exactly when I took it – but my guess would be 2003, maybe 2004.

I played keyboards with Freddy from 1996 to 2005 along with Charlie Rich, Jr. and Augie Meyers.

What was Freddy Fender like to work for? Awesome. I really loved him.

Vaya Con Dios Freddy.

FREDDY FENDER STATS

AKA Baldemar G Huerta

Born: 4-Jun-1937
Birthplace: San Benito, TX
Died: 14-Oct-2006
Location of death: Corpus Christi, TX
Cause of death: Cancer – Lung

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: Hispanic
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Musician

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Before the Next Teardrop Falls

Military service: USMC

Wife: Vangie (m. 9-Aug-1957)
Daughter: Marla Huerta Garcia

University: Del Mar College, Corpus Christi, TX

Grammy twice
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Drug Possession: Marijuana Baton Rouge, LA (13-May-1960)
Bankruptcy 15-Feb-1983
Kidney Transplant University Hospital, San Antonio, TX (24-Jan-2002)
Liver Transplant
Mexican Ancestry
Risk Factors: Diabetes, Hepatitis, Alcoholism, Kidney Transplant, Marijuana

FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR
The Milagro Beanfield War (18-Mar-1988)
Short Eyes (1977)

Official Website:
http://www.freddyfender.com/