Vol.4, No. I ct d Day e '

After overcoming obstacles such as drug addiction and jail time, music legend Freddy Fender now faces hepatitis C and kidney failure in a fight for his life.

BY BRAD DODSON

o his fans, Freddy Fender is a Southern blues legend. Some might even call him immortal if they did not know the irony attached to the word. Because - as Freddy's true fans know - failing kidneys and a battle with hepatitis C have brought this beloved star down to Earth in a fight for his life. On a recent Saturday afternoon in Louisiana, Freddy's fans packed themselves into the main foyer of the Isle of Capri Casino - ignoring the lure of the slot machines just feet away - just to catch a glimpse of him before his evening concert. A rumor has circulated that this might be the last public performance in a career that has spanned five decades, and it is hard to tell who would miss the other more: Freddy or his fans. "It gives me a feeling of professional accomplish­ ment," Freddy says of the assembling throng who are waiting to rush the concert hall for the best seats, "and at the same time, a humble feeling of gratitude." When the wait is finally over, and Freddy­ guitar slung over his shoulder - strolls on stage and up to the microphone, it seems as if talk of his early demise is certainly premature, until he reminds the audience himself. "I'm very happy to be here tonight .... Of course, I'm very happy to be anywhere tonight!" he proclaims

12 Hepatitis January/February 2002 before breaking into his first song of sions of Elvis the night - the appropriately titled Presley's Don't Be Tell It Like It Is. Before the show is Cruel and Harry over, Freddy will have everyone out Belafonte's Jamaica of their seats and dancing in the Farewell. Soon aisles. afterward, success came calling in the form of a contract Freddy Fender is no stranger to witl1 Imperial tough times, or adversity. Born in the Records. With ilie Depression, he grew up as Baldemar hope of crossing Huerta in a barrio in the small Texas over to the town of San Benito. Freddy's family "gringo" main­ struggled to make ends meet in a stream, Baldemar time of scarce jobs, working as Huerta became migrant laborers around the Rio Freddy Fender and Grande Valley in Texas. The hours in 1959, Freddy were long, and the pay was minimal; would hit No. 1 in however, it would not be long before ilie states with his Freddy belts out his hits on stage Freddy would prove true the saying, own song, Wasted Days in Biloxi, Miss., in January 2001. "tough times never last, but tough and Wasted Nights. people do." The song would Male Artist of 197 5. The Gavin "Growing up and working in tl1e prove prophetic. Before success could Report would award him single and fields gave me the caring attitude I be further capitalized - Freddy and album of the year honors. now have for my fans," Freddy says. his bass player would be arrested and With a career in full motion, Looking back at his beginning, he sent to prison for possession of two Freddy would follow singing with a adds, helps Freddy keep his feet on marijuana cigarettes. He would leave move into acting, most notably with a the ground and his ego in check when prison three years later and eventually breakthrough performance in the he iliinks of the people who support wind up back in the Valley, working Robert Redford film, The Milagro his music. as a mechanic and taking classes at Becmfield War. In the 1980s and Freddy had an ear and voice for the local college, his music career 1990s, he would also earn recognition music from an early age, and it would derailed into playing the clubs on and acclaim for his work with ilie be this "gift" that would change the weekends. 'fejano super group, the Texas course of his life. At the age of 10, he Tornadoes. Everything was great - made his first appearance on radio, until it got worse. Somewhere along singing Paloma Querida. Not long Like a cat with many lives, and over a the way to the top, Freddy would lose after, another performance of iliat decade since he had been a rising star, someiliing he wasn't even aware he song would earn him first prize in a Freddy was determined to make it to needed - his health. But he would talent contest in Harlingen, Texas. tl1e top again. In the 1970s Freddy also gain some perspective. Feeling the sensation of perform­ turned to count1y music and in 197 5 ing for others, Freddy began to take hit the No. 1 spot with another song, in earnest the lessons of the blues he Before the Next Teardrop Falls. On Since 1976 Freddy has been dealing heard sung in the fields by the April 8, 197 5, he made history when with life as a diabetic. To combat ilie African American workers. Combin­ the song became the first debut single disease, he has been giving himself ing the Mexican music of his family, to make it to the top of both the insulin injections daily for almost 25 with the polka he heard played Billboard country and pop charts. A years. He treated diabetes as little among the German/Czechoslovakian remake of Wasted Days and Wasted more ilian a scratch. After all, mil­ settlers, and the blues, Freddy devel­ Nights made it to the No. I spot on lions of people were living wiili it oped a style all his own. the country chart and with two fol­ around the world. So Freddy contin­ As Baldemar Huerta, he had num­ low-up No. ls, Freddy's album went ued living the life he loved: traveling, ber one hits in Mexico and South multi-platinum. By the end of the performing, and having as good a America in 1957, with Spanish ver- year, Billboard would name him Best time as possible.

January/February 2002 Hepatitis 13 Grammy awards for his work with spend too much time asking the you're not him." the Texas Tornadoes and critical wrong question. The question should "v\Thich was right," says Freddy. acclaim came and, by the 90s, life was not be 'v\There did you get this dis­ "I've gotten a lot of spirituality since as good as it could get. Then, in ease?' it should be, 'v\That are you then through what I do." Much of it November 2000, the wake-up call going to do now that you have it?"' comes in the form of unwavering sup- arrived. He was told he had hepatitis C. He was also told he needed a kid­ \ rt ney transplant; the diabetes was wear­ ing out his organs. And just like that, This is easy for much like the 1960s, Freddy Fender Freddy, because found himself in transition, having to it's similar to start over again. another road he traveled in the 1980s - addic­ Freddy found out he had the hepatitis tion. v\Thile it's C virus after going to the doctor to not something he find out why he wasn't feeling as good remembers fond­ as he thought he should. A former rev­ ly, he appreciates eler, he figured he might need to slow the similarity down and get some rest. But just to be between accept­ sure, he got a professional opinion. ing that he was "I had no idea what it might be," addicted to alco­ says Freddy, "although I had been hol and drugs thinking for a while that it might be and that of living something, because I was always with hepatitis C. Freddy credits his wife, Vangie, for taking care exhausted." The doctor confirmed it As a person who of his career as well as his health. when Freddy's blood work tested pos­ was trying to figure itive for the hepatitis C virus. out addiction in the past, he remem­ port from his fans, many of whom At first the news was a shock to bers always wanting to know why peo­ offer their support through letters Freddy. He likened it to Pandora's ple became alcoholics and addicts, with posted on his Web site, box. He knew he needed to find out the hopes of stumbling onto some hid­ www.FreddyFender.com. what was wrong, but "sometimes you den criteria. "Then one day a lady said don't want to take the lid off, because to me, 'Freddy, don't worry about how you might not like what you find on the cow got into the ditch, just worry For a man who's made a living out of the inside." And what he found at about getting it out of there!"' The giving hope and joy to others, one of first glance wasn't something he approach has worked. Freddy has since the hardest lessons Freddy has wanted to see. "I guess it was a blow," maintained 16 years sobriety with the learned since he began battling hepa­ he recalls, "but like a boxer, I've help of Alcoholics Anonymous. That titis is how to take instead of give. learned in this life that more than attitude is now the stance he takes "There are days when I feel that no anything you have to roll with the towards hepatitis: Don't get caught up one knows how heavy the sack is punches. I've also come to realize that in the how, instead focus on dealing except the one who is carrying it," says the only way to mature is to take your with it head on. Freddy. "It used to offend me when hits and get up again." For this, spirituality and the help of others would write, or call, to say they Freddy's approach toward the dis­ others play a large role. "v\Then you were praying for me, as if I was going ease has been different than many first go to AA meetings, you have to to die that day. Then I realized that I other's facing the same diagnosis. learn to believe in God," says Freddy. was carrying a burden by myself that I He's not in denial, but he doesn't see "This was difficult for me at the time didn't have to. I realized their words the need for dwelling over how he because subconsciously I probably and prayers came from the heart. contracted the virus. "I can bet you thought I was hjm." Freddy's barber "I used to find that acceptance was that most of the people who were helped put it into perspective, telling noble, as in acceptance of the disease diagnosed were surprised - it's a him, "the only thing you need to - now I see that acceptance of the jolt," says Freddy. "But to me, people know about God, Freddy, is that love of others is more noble."

14 Hepatitis January/February 2002 The words strike a chord in him. chagrin the way he handled their Freddy. "The stage of my I-ICV is too "In the past, there were a lot of times worries before when the illness far advanced for a traditional dose of I would call Freddy Fender fans who caused him to lose a large amount of medication. I'm suffering from the were terminal," remembers Freddy. "I weight in a short time. "I'm very early stages of cirrhosis. would say things I thought were independent," he says, "and I was "I've had to settle my diet down appropriate to the situation, but I unaware of the situation; I didn't rec­ considerably - not much of the spicy didn't know what it was to be sick. ognize the sincerity in the concerns stuff anymore - and of course go to Now I do. of my childrep. and relatives. Now I dialysis while I wait for a kidney "This has given me an insight, an try to be more aware and sensitive." transplant. But mostly I treat it (hepa­ ability to empathize, appreciate, and Since going on dialysis every other titis C) by trying to rest, maintaining have a love for others. Unfortunately, day for his kidneys, and having the my status with the doctor, and being in some ways it makes you think about complications added by hepatitis C, sensible." He says one of his biggest dying every day. But, then you also Freddy has agreed to lower his book­ regrets is that his touring and dialysis begin to recognize what it means to be ings by about 50 percent. Now he schedules do not leave time to attend alive. You learn hepatitis support to live; you real­ group meetings. ; ize how fragile "My under­ we really are - standing is that how weak are the you can live with links of our life." HCV for the rest of your life, so I'm ( intl' 11 learning all of the information on it. Freddy's battle Right now, I know for his health has the basics." As for led him to the future ... well, another impor­ Freddy thinks it tant realization: best summed up in There is much two ways: to be grateful for One is in the in the world. words of a song Most notably his from the past that loving wife of states his faith Freddy endures his first day of dialysis treatment in November 2000. more than 40 years, toward things, Vangie. Talking to "Starting all over him, it doesn't take much for you to plays mostly weekends but still per­ again, it's gonna be rough, so rough, get the picture - she's the proverbial forms aroqnd the world. Vangie says, but we're gonna make it.... I know "good woman" behind the man. "I don't know where he gets the ener­ we will." More than a wife, she works as a gy. It's not even why does he still do And the other, perhaps the most manager, caretaker and protector. it, but how does he do it?" Freddy comical when taken as a sign that, no He quickly points out her says the cut in his touring schedule matter what, you're going to get what strengths, saying with affection, "My has as much to do with being older you need comes from the words of wife is the most devoted little soldier - and wanting some time to be Freddy's 86 year-old uncle, Chuy, I've ever met, and the greatest nurse. home in Corpus Christi or fishing on who told him, "Don't worry, no one I've never appreciated (her) so much, his boat in the Gulf of Mexico - as it ever dies before their time." until I was sick." Testament to his does with his ill health. And as for that show being the last love and appreciation, he is able to one he's ever going to perform - recite the date of their marriage with­ Freddy says don't count on it. out hesitation when prodded, But it's change that he's made, and it's "August 9, 1957." change like this that is for his best Brad Dodson is a freelance writer who Alongside his wife have been their interest. "Medically speaking, I take lives in Seabrook, Texas, who has loved children, although he recalls with no medications right now," says Freddy Fender's music for years.

January/February 2002 Hepatitis IS