In June of 2022, we posed the question : Why Isn't Freddy Fender in the Country Music Hall of Fame? Breaking down the impact of his music and sound that has inspired generations of artists and also laid the foundation of a sound that took the country music industry by storm. Since that article in 2022, a petition was launched with the goal of addressing the question of his induction and providing context to it. With over 12,000 signatures and rising, the timing set off a domino effect of recognition of his musical impact. In a year Freddy Fender's musical legacy was put into focus and continues to gain momentum on multiple fronts as we head to the upcoming 50th anniversary of his breakout into the country music scene, that could indicate much in store for the icon (who passed away on Oct. 14, 2006) in 2024 -- from the local community he represents to the industry itself. We recap all the ways in which his legacy is being put in focus.
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In April of 2023, the State of Texas put Freddy Fender's legacy into focus by honoring the icon with a historical marker at his family home in San Benito, Texas. The marker was to celebrate his contributions to country music, achieving that success from his deep-South Texas home during the height of his fame. To do this before the 50th anniversary of "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" is Texas recognizing a member of its artistic community in a meaningful way of preserving the spaces that he occupied.
This is followed up by the announcement by San Antonio U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro of his efforts in nominating works by Latinx musicians for inclusion in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry; and highlighting that "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" by Freddy Fender has been put up for consideration for induction in the Song (single) category.
"The National Recording Registry's very existence speaks to the important role that music plays in American culture and society. The scarceness of Latino artists in our country's recording legacy has wide-reaching implications on how Latinos are perceived in American society. Latino music and its influence can be found across languages, geographical boundaries, and genres. Latino artists, through their musical contributions, have marked all aspects of American life and are worth celebrating and preserving," Congressman Castro wrote in his nomination letter.
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As a community uses its collective voice to really bring focus to Freddy Fender's legacy and honor it accordingly, we see that the country music industry is moving in its way to keep him top of mind with the recent UMG Nashville release of Freddy Fender record, "Los Buenos Tiempos." This record, released September 14, 2023, has remastered b-Sides and single versions of songs from Fender's vault. We reached out to UMG Nashville to discuss the decision on releasing this project on streaming two days before Hispanic Heritage Month, but they did not respond immediately for comment.
The industry, the community and Latino(e) and Hispanic artists are in a state of growth and as many make their mark on the country music industry it becomes apparent that timing is on Fender's side as more of his peers come out in support of his work, such as the recent recognition from Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson on a recent post on Instagram by Honky Tonk Town, where he applauds a video that showcases a Dolly Parton and Freddy Fender duet of "Before the Next Teardrop Falls," calling it "Amazing."
Everyday we watch a man's legacy come into focus and be celebrated loudly by so many unexpected voices and we can't wait to see how it will take shape in 2024.
