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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 264
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In Memory |
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of |
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Freddy Fender |
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas commemorates the |
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life of Freddy Fender, who died October 16, 2006, at the age of |
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69; and |
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WHEREAS, He was born Baldemar Huerta in 1937 in San Benito, |
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where he was influenced by the Mexican-polka sound known as |
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conjunto; the son of migrant workers, he worked alongside his |
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parents in the fields, and there picked up the melancholy sound |
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of the blues in the songs of the black people he worked with; and |
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WHEREAS, While still just a boy, he was performing on radio |
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and often won contests for his singing; he was proud of his |
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Mexican-American heritage and sang popular tunes of the day in |
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Spanish, including Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel" and |
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Harry Belafonte's "Jamaica Farewell," which became big hits in |
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Mexico and South America; and |
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WHEREAS, He took the name Freddy Fender after signing on |
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with Imperial Records in 1959; the following year he recorded |
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"Wasted Days and Wasted Nights"; and |
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WHEREAS, In the 60s and early 70s, Freddy went through a time |
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of adversity and disappointment, but he returned to prominence in |
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1974 with the hit, "Before the Next Teardrop Falls"; in 1975, he |
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won best new artist award from the Academy of Country Music and a |
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rerelease of "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" topped the country |
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music chart and landed in the top 10 on the pop music chart; and |
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WHEREAS, He appeared in movies and received a star on the |
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Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999; he won a Grammy for the best Latin |
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pop album in 2002 and shared two Grammy awards, one with the |
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Texas Tornados and one with Los Super Seven; and |
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WHEREAS, Freddy Fender was known for his unique sound and |
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memorable music and he will long be remembered by his family and |
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many fans; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, |
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80th Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the life of Freddy Fender |
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and extend sincere condolences to the members of his bereaved |
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family; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the |
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Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do |
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so in memory of Freddy Fender. |
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Lucio, Hinojosa |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on February 19, 2007, |
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by a rising vote. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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Member, Texas Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |