Freddy Fender Has Incurable Cancer

Wednesday, August 2, 2006 10:41 PM EDT
The Associated Press


CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) — Musician Freddy Fender has incurable cancer, discovered after tumors were found on his lungs, and his wife said they are "hoping for a miracle."

"I feel very comfortable in my life," Fender told the Corpus Christi Caller-Times for a story published Wednesday. "I'm one year away from 70 and I've had a good run. I really believe I'm OK. In my mind and in my heart, I feel OK. I cannot complain that I haven't lived long enough, but I'd like to live longer."

Fender started his career in the late 1950s and hit the charts with "Before The Next Teardrop Falls," "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" and "You'll Lose A Good Thing." He has won three Grammy Awards, the most recent in 2002.

He was to have surgery in early January to remove the upper left lobe of his lung because of a fungal infection, but surgeons found two large tumors and left the lobe intact.

Fender underwent chemotherapy in late January but stopped because of its side effects. A scan later found nine more tumors.

He was resting at his home in Corpus Christi, said Vangie Huerta, his wife and manager, adding that she did not ask doctors to estimate how long he might live.

Fender, who has canceled all performances, has decided to resume chemotherapy at a lower dosage.

"We can prolong his life with medication or chemo, but it's not a cure," his wife said.

Fender received a kidney from his daughter in 2002 and a liver transplant in 2004. He has had problems with diabetes and hepatitis C.

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Way too young to have all these medical problems and now looking at death. How sad, I remember him being very popular in the 60's and early 70's. A very recognizable voice.
Thanks again Annie for all your hard work and keeping us informed.

oh dear - what a tough tuff time he's had and now this...boy when life sucks it really sucks...
sheesh..

Wasted Days And Wasted Nights. We all have to go sometime. But it is always sad to hear. :(

[ October 16, 2006, 06:30: Message edited by: Jesse -Joe ]

Yes, I agree, but his attitude is great. He realizes he's had a good life and a good run, and while 70 is too young to die, that man seems to have an appreciation for quality over quantity, and for the love of his family and other important things around him.

Indeed, lets hope for a miracle. He deserves it.

Semper Fidelis Freddy !! Hang in there.

Bill

Oh,no. :(

It always gets to me when someone famous like this passes on. Especially in music.

I remember when I got out of high school in 1987,one of my presents from my mother was a "live" tape of him with about 20 songs on it. I now wish I'd kept it,instead of giving it away in the '90s.

Although he didn't have the huge,year after year pop success,most artists enjoy....
he did top the pop charts in May of 1975 with,"Before The Next Teardrop Falls" and the top 10 with "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" and a few more top 40 hits.

Primarily,he was considered a country artist and had more succes in that field. Most importantly,he was a Mexican male who acheived great status in a time,in music,where most had difficulties.

He sang as himself and not in some image a promoter conjured up for him. That makes him just as important as anyone in music.

Rest in peace Freddy,viva musica.

Let's not forget that also,he was in the movie,"The Milangro Beanfield War". I haven't seen it but he plays the mayor of the town in which it's set.

A bit ironic;he passed away 30 years afterhis last pop hit. All four of those went to #1 on the country chart though.

He also leaves us 9 years to the week that John Denver's plane went down.

Denver's,"Thank God I'm A Country Boy" immediately followed 1 week after "...Teardrop" at #1 in 1975.