Title: Before the Next Teardrop Falls
Artist: Freddy Fender
Series: –
Volume: –
Label: ABC-Dot Records
Catalog Number: M S 2040
Format: LP, Stereo
Country of Release: United States (Texas)
Language: Spanish, English
Genre: Country, Tex-Mex, Chicano Music, Country-Pop, Tejano (early crossover)
Era: 1970s
đź“ť Liner Notes (Back Cover Text)
Artist Statement / Biography
My real name is Baldemar G. Huerta. I was born in the south Texas valley border town of San Benito. I’m a Mexican-American, better yet, a Tex-Mex. I just picked up my stage name, Freddy Fender, in the late fifties as a name that would help my music sell better with “gringos.” Now I like the name.
Music was part of me, even in my early childhood. I can still remember sitting on the street corner facing Pancho Galvan’s grocery store, plunking at my three-string guitar. I didn’t have a back on it, but it sure sounded pretty good to me and the crowd of little kids listening. Music kept a lot of us happy, even when it was hard for our Mama to put beans on the table.
We began migrating up north as farm workers when I was about ten. We worked beets in Michigan, pickles in Ohio, baled hay and picked tomatoes in Indiana. When that was over came cotton picking in Arkansas. All we really had to look forward to was making enough money to have a good Christmas in the “valley” where somehow I’d always manage to get my mother to buy me a guitar if the old one was worn out.
When I was sixteen I dropped out of high school and joined the Marines for three years. I got to see California, Japan and Okinawa; but mainly I got my point of view from the time I spent in the brig. It seemed that I just couldn’t adjust myself to such a disciplined way of life. I always liked to play the guitar in the barracks and to drink so much that sometimes I forgot where or who I was.
The late fifties found me back in San Benito, playing beer joints, Chicano dances and starting my singing career. I even began recording some all-Spanish Chicano records and by 1958 these were doing great in Texas and Mexico. Next I turned to some Tex-Mex rockabilly music for recordings and cut “Holy One” and my big hit “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights” in 1959. Then in 1960 I cut “Crazy, Crazy, Baby.” Everything went beautiful until May, Friday the 13th, 1960. I was busted for “grass” in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I’m not bitter, but if friends ask I still say that three years I had to spend in Angola State Prison was a long time for a little mistake.
My time in prison was hard, but music made it better. I can remember when my bass player and I (we were busted together) walked into Angola carrying our guitar and bass instead of our clothes. Then every Saturday and Sunday we would play on the “walk” for all our fellow convicts. I even recorded an album of Chicano songs on a portable tape recorder at the prison. In July 1963 I headed for home from prison on a Trailways bus, but soon came back to Louisiana, singing at “Papa Joe’s” on Bourbon Street in New Orleans until 1968. It was there that I played music with such cats as Joe Barry, Joey Long, Skip Easterling and Aaron Neville.
By 1969 I was back in the “valley,” playing again with a Chicano orchestra and learning new trends. I was beginning to feel that maybe I was getting too old and should go ahead and hang up my “gloves.” So I went to work as a mechanic and played music on weekends, getting $1.60 an hour and $28 a night picking so that I didn’t starve to death. I took the G.E.D. test, received my high school diploma, and even went to college for two years.
By 1974 I was living in Corpus Christi, Texas and a friend told me about Huey Meaux, a recording producer from Houston who had produced some big hits on B.J. Thomas, Joe Barry and my good friend Doug Sahm. He accepted my material and we started recording. It was in one of these sessions that I first cut my country pop hit “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” on Huey’s “Crazy Cajun” label. ABC-Dot Records purchased the record and signed me when it started happening on country stations in Houston. I couldn’t be prouder. After 20 years of trying I’ve finally got my first national hit record!
Dedications:
Thank you very much Larry Baunach, Vice President, Dot Records.
Thank you very much Sam Herro, Personal Manager.
And to Bill and Wanda Harvey, and my friends Trini and Neto Bocanegra, my gratefulness.
Thank you so much,
Freddy Fender
(Also known as Baldemar Huerta)
SIDE A
- Roses Are Red – 3:10
- I’m Not a Fool Anymore – 2:30
- Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends – 2:35
- You Can’t Get Here From There – 2:56
- I Love My Rancho Grande – 2:48
- Wasted Days and Wasted Nights – 2:52
SIDE B
- I Almost Called Your Name – 2:31
- Before the Next Teardrop Falls – 2:32
- Wild Side of Life – 3:08
- After the Fire Is Gone – 2:57
- Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye – 2:12
Produced by: Huey P. Meaux
Arrangements: Bruce Ewen
Recorded at: Sugar Hill Studios, Houston, Texas
Engineers: Mickey Moody, Robert Evans, Pat Brady
Background Vocals: Sugar Sweets
(Introducing Tracy Frill)
Photography: Terry Blackburn
Talent Coordinators: Cheryl Brandt, Beth Thornton, John Craig Stout
Bass: Donny King
Drums: Chester Vaughn
Lead Guitar: Randy Corner
Piano: Bruce Ewen – James Lowery
Rhythm Guitar: Mickey Moody
Steel Guitar: Mickey Moody – Fred Heine
Harpsichord: Bruce Ewen
Collection Note:
From the personal collection of Amalia Renteria. Album cover art and liner notes are presented for educational, research, and archival purposes. No audio recordings are hosted.