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Freddy Fender & Doug Sahm |
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Ay! Yi! Yi! |
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| Texas musicians Freddy Fender and cohort
Doug Sahm were Texas music legends. Freddy (birth name
Baldemar G. Huerta) is perhaps best known
for his signature song Wasted Days and Wasted Nights, whereas Doug was
most famous for his time spent heading up namesake group the Sir Douglas
Quintet (Mendocino, She's About A Mover).
While Freddy and Doug still pursued solo projects, in recent years they had teamed up with noted accordian player Flaco Jimenez, and keyboardist Augie Meyers, to delight audiences as The Texas Tornados. Unfortunately, 'Sir' Doug left this world in November 1999.
You may wish to read a brief
press
account. For an extensive discography/biography, check
out the Vinyl
Tourist Doug Sahm Pages. |
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| San Benito, Texas, located in the lower Rio
Grande Valley, is the hometown of Freddy Fender. In December 2008,
Mr. Rey Avila, President, Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame and museum
curator (please see article he is cited in 'You
Can See It All At The San Benito Museums'), was gracious to give a
tour of the Freddy Fender Museum and Texas Conjunto Music Hall of
Fame Museum, both housed in the same building at
210 E. Heywood St. in downtown San Benito. Mr. Avila informed
me that
Ideal Records was based there at one time, and showed me the
original metal molds, vinyl presses, vinyl and labels used in producing
records for many regional musicians. During the tour, Freddy's brother,
Jose Luis,
stopped by sharing insights such as how Freddy came to record his mega
hit Before The Next Teardrop Falls (see 1979 performance video of
Rancho Grande & Before The Next Teardrop Falls). The museum features a very nice ten minute video describing Freddy's life, a favored motorcycle, clothing he wore, musical instruments, and much more that are great to see. I would highly recommend a visit to both museums, not only for what they include, but the friendly atmosphere and knowledge that Mr. Avila and other curators are very happy to share. Mr. Avila indicated the museums will at some point move to larger quarters where they will recreate a recording studio and setup the Ideal Records press and equipment. Video highlights from the museum visit: As follows are photos from the visit. |
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| Mr. Rey Avila, a curator for the Freddy Fender Museum and Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame (which he is also President of), signs in a couple of museum visitors at the San Benito, Texas location. | Mr. Rey Avila and me in front of Freddy Fender
memorabilia at the Freddy Fender Museum, San Benito, Texas.
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One of Freddy Fender's motorcycles, his guitars, and
a beautiful light blue performance outfit complete with sequins.
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Freddy Fender's brother stopped by the museum and was good enough
to take a few photos. In the top photo you can see him by a poster
of a very young Freddy Fender.
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| Mr. Rey Avila giving visitors a tour of the Texas
Conjunto Music Hall Of Fame and Museum. Numerous Conjunto artists
are displayed on the walls, along with their contribution to the music
genre.
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(Top)A museum visitor holding a metal record mold
manufactured in California. Mr. Avila shows how a record press would come down on top of the metal mold, with vinyl product in between--producing a record. Mr. Avila holds a finished vinyl record, manufactured some years back by Ideal Record company, San Benito, Texas. |
A visitor and Mr. Avila hold up records in the museum section exploring the history of Conjunto music, which include Mexican and even European influences. | Conjunto music vintage musical instruments.
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Freddy Fender Emblazoned on San Benito Water Tower
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When the city's new $1.4 million water tower was
unveiled, it was to be dedicated to San Benito's favorite son, Freddy
Fender. The original plan for a guitar was jettisoned in favor of the
musician's painting, two of them, and the Greyhound logo, with the
lettering "Hometown of Freddy Fender" in purple and gold. Place:
Highway 77 in San Benito, Texas --At March 2009 Freddy's image continues to grace the city water tower. (Note: Photo of Freddy Fender at water tower unveiling ceremony courtesy of http://www.freddyfender.com/honors.html) |
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| In February 1999, Freddy Fender received a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame. Note: Photo on right courtesy of http://www.freddyfender.com/hollywood.html |
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Click Images To Enlarge |
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| Besides the great Freddy Fender's autograph, this mish-mash of scribbling, also sports Doug Sahm (formerly of The Sir Douglas Quintet), keyboardist Augie Meyers, and Flaco Jimenez, a master accordion player. |
Freddy Fender background information. Wasted Days & Wasted Nights sheet music. |
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| The following are pictures taken of Freddy Fender, Doug
Sahm, and Flaco Jimenez, who along with Augie Meyers, billed themselves as
The Texas Tornados, at a December 1998 performance at Antone's, Austin, Texas.
Even though Doug Sahm did not pass away until the following November
(1999), it is likely that this was among the last performances the Texas
Tornados did together, or most certainly the last with such a full backup
complement of musicians.
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Ay! Yi! Yi! Freddy exhorts the crowd. |
Freddy crooning away |
Wasted Days and Wasted Nights! |
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Click Images To Enlarge |
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| 'Sir' Doug belts out Mendocino, a mega hit when he headed up The Sir Douglas Quintet. | Doug Sahm and Freddy Fender. The two went back a long ways. |
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| Doug Sahm chuckling over Freddy's having a bit of fun. |
Freddy and The Texas Tornados |
Master accordion player Flaco Jimenez |
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| Freddy and his Fender guitar (naturally). | Freddy looks satisfied at the notes he is hitting, as Flaco Jimenez looks on. |
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Click Images To Enlarge |
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| Antone's advertisement run in the December 17, 1998 Austin American Statesman. | Post event critique run in the December 24, 1998 Austin American Statesman. |
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| Freddy Fender also played The Old Dessau Music Hall, a venue just north of Austin, Texas on September 27, 1997. |
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| Old Dessau Music Hall sign with Freddy on the Marquee. | Old Dessau Music Hall ad run in September 25, 1997 Austin American Statesman. |
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| Freddy and his band delighting the audience. Long-time friend Doug Sahm (not shown), also stopped by to sing a tune or two. |
Freddy crooning away. What a great voice! |
| Links
Freddy Fender Official Website Vinyl
Tourist Doug Sahm Pages
1979 Performance Video Rancho Grande & Before The Next Teardrop Falls Articles And Information -- Conjunto Music |
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Questions, Comments, Dead Links? E-Mail Me |
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