In 1959, Fender recorded the blues ballad "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights." The song became popular in 1959, but he was beset by legal troubles after he and a band member were arrested for possession of marijuana. After a two years in Louisiana's Angola prison farm, he was released through the intercession of Gov. Jimmie Davis, also a songwriter and musician. Davis requested that Fender stay away from music while on probation as a condition of his release. By the end of the 1960s, Fender was back in Texas working as a mechanic, and attending a local junior college, while only playing music on the weekends.
Number One Pop and Country
In 1974, Fender recorded "Before The Next Teardrop Falls." The single was selected for national distribution, and became a number one hit on the Billboard Country and Pop charts. His next four singles, including a remake of "Wasted Days", all hit the number one spot on the Billboard Country charts. During the next few years, Fender had several major country hits, including the No. 1 hits "Secret Love" (1975) and "You'll Lose a Good Thing" (1976).
Texas Tornados
In the 1990s, Fender teamed up with fellow Tex-Mex musicians Doug Sahm, Flaco Jimenez and Augie Myers to form the Tex-Mex supergroup the Texas Tornados, whose work was widely acclaimed. Following the death of Sahm, the production of the Tornadoes slowed.
Los Super Seven
Freddy Fender continued to still be on top with a groundbreaking collaboration with several musical legends to produce another supergroup, Los Super Seven which consisted of David Hidalgo (vocals, guitar, drums, bass, percussion, requinto, hidalguera); Rick Trevino, Joe Ely (vocals, guitar); Flaco Jimenez (vocals, accordion); Cesar Rosas (vocals, six-string bass, guitar, guitarron, jarana); Freddy Fender (vocals, acoustic bass); Ruben Ramos (vocals). This Super Seven effort won a Grammy in 1999.
On February 4, 1999, Freddy's star was installed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In 2004, the Texas Folklife Resources produced a widely acclaimed sell-out show at the Paramount in Austin, Texas " Fifty Years of Freddy Fender", where Freddy was honored and then performed to a packed house. Also in 2004, Freddy's hometown of San Benito Texas honored Freddy with his likeness emblazoned on their new watertower with "Hometown of Freddy Fender". Freddy would later say that this honor meant more to him than any other accolade he had ever won.
Freddy Fender's Masterpiece...
La Musica De Baldemar Huerta
Freddy delves deeply into the music of his forefathers: the boleros and rancheras that would have played in the ghettos of his native San Benito, Texas, and that he sang as a youth in border-town cantinas. Especially gorgeous are "Adios Muchachos," a melancholy meditation on final farewells, and the delicate opener, "Rayito de Luna." El Be Bop Kid isn't just back; he sounds reborn. Freddy won his last Grammy for this album.
Freddy Fender underwent a kidney transplant in 2002 donated by his daughter and a transplant of the liver in 2004. Nonetheless, his condition continued to worsen. He was suffering from an "incurable cancer" in which he had tumors on his lungs. On December 31, 2005, Fender performed his last concert and resumed chemotherapy.
Fender has Passed on...
Rest in Peace, Vaya Con Dios
Freddy Fender passed away on Saturday, October 14, 2006, after a long battle with lung cancer. He is buried in his Hometown of San Benito, Texas.
Plans are underway for a Freddy Fender Museum to be located in his beloved hometown, San Benito, Texas. Check back at: www.freddyfendermuseum.org or
www.freddyfender.com
Since I Met You Baby (Desde Que Conosco
FREDDY FENDER Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Since I met you baby my whole life has changed
And everybody tells me that I am not the same
I don't need nobody to tell my troubles to
I don't need nobody to tell my troubles to
Cause since I met you baby all I need is you
Since I met you baby I'm a happy man
I'm gonna try to please you in every way I can
The lyrics of Freddy Fender's song "Since I Met You" convey a sense of total transformation in the singer's life after meeting someone. He notes that everything around him feels different and that he no longer needs anyone to tell his troubles to because he has newfound happiness. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the drastic changes that the singer has undergone since meeting this person. He sounds almost surprised at how much his life has changed and seems content to do whatever it takes to make this person happy.
One of the interesting things about this song is that it was originally written and recorded by blues singer Ivory Joe Hunter in 1956. Hunter's version of the song was a hit on the R&B charts, but Fender's cover made it a hit again seventeen years later, reaching the top of the country charts. The song's crossover success is a testament to Fender's diverse range as a musician.
Another interesting detail about this song is that Fender sings it in both English and Spanish, showcasing his fluency in both languages. Fender was a pioneer in the Chicano music movement and was known for incorporating Tejano and Mexican influences into his music.
"Since I Met You" has been covered by a range of other artists, including B.B. King and Eric Clapton, highlighting its enduring popularity.
The song's simple chord progression and catchy melody have made it a favorite for guitar players of all levels.
Fender's emotive vocals perfectly capture the sense of joy and gratitude that comes with finding love.
The song's message of transformation and devotion also make it a popular choice for wedding playlists.
Freddy Fender's version of "Since I Met You" was part of his 1975 album "Rock 'n' Country", which also featured his hit single "Before the Next Teardrop Falls".
Fender's unique voice and style have earned him a spot in the Tejano Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame.
The song's lyrics have been interpreted as expressing not just romantic love, but also the transformative power of meeting a spiritual teacher or mentor.
Fender's version of the song is typically played in the key of E, with a standard 12-bar blues progression.
Chords:
Verse: E | A | E | B7
Chorus: E | A | E | B7 | E | A | E | B7
Bridge: A | G#7 | C#m | B7 | A | G#7 | C#m | B7
Outro: E | A | E | B7 | E.
Line by Line Meaning
Since I met you baby my whole life has changed
Meeting you has had a profound impact on my life
And everybody tells me that I am not the same
People have noticed how much you have changed me
I don't need nobody to tell my troubles to
I don't need to confide in anyone else about my problems
Cause since I met you baby all I need is you
You are the only one I need in my life
Since I met you baby I'm a happy man
You have brought me so much happiness
I'm gonna try to please you in every way I can
I will do everything in my power to make you happy
Contributed by Alice P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.