Baldemar Huerta Medina (born June 4, 1937 San Benito, Texas and dies October 14, 2006, in Corpus Christi, Texas). In 1959 Baldemar changed his name to Freddy Fender, took the surname Fender from his guitar and Freddy due to the achieved phonetic harmony. An interesting piece of information was the one that recorded in those years a song called “Holy One” or “Only One” under the name of Scotty Wayne, for the label Duncan Records (1959), in 1960 also recorded an album, with the Name of Eddie Medina with Los Shades, for Falcon Records label.
“Before the Next Teardrop Falls”:
Song written by Vivian Keith and Ben Peters in 1967, the first version was recorded by Duane Dee in 1967, for the Capitol label, reaching position 44 of the country charts. In the year 1970 Linda Martell, recorded another version, for the label, Plantation Records placing itself in the position number 33 at the beginning of the 70s. Also, Jerry Lee Lewis recorded it in 1969 for the Smash Records label.
In 1974 the conductor Huey P. Meaux, proposed to Freddy, record the song, a bilingual way, the first part in English and the second part repeating it in Spanish. It was a fast and satisfying recording.
The result of this recording, was spectacular, arriving at March 15, 1975 at number one of the country charts in the United States (two weeks in a row), Canada and Australia. He also reached the number one on Pop charts in the USA. Gold record for overcoming the million copies sold, it was also single of the year, the best vocalist of the year and best album, a success for Freddy.
THE song was included on the album, Before The Next Teardrop Falls in 1974 for the ABC Dot label.
Included in film : The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005), starred and directed by Tommy Lee Jones.
Miquel Batlle Garriga
mbatllegarriga@gmail.com