Freddy Fender died at his home in Corpus Christi, Texas, on October 14, 2006, with his family at his bedside. He died after a long battle with lung cancer. Fender is 69 years old.
A month before his death, the Grammy-winning musician revealed he had been diagnosed with incurable cancer. Fender underwent surgery after a fungal infection and the left upper lobe of his lung had to be removed. However, surgeons found two large tumors.
He then underwent chemotherapy, which was eventually stopped due to side effects. Unfortunately, scans later revealed another nine tumors. Fender decided to continue his chemotherapy at a lower dose. “I can’t complain that I didn’t live long enough, but I want to live longer,” Fender said.
Freddie Fender’s Life as a Performer
Born into a family of immigrant workers in San Benito, Texas, Freddy Fender began his career in the late 1950s, but did not achieve national fame until the mid-1970s. Freddy Fender’s songs — such as “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” and “You’ll Lose a Good Thing” — hit the charts and even earned him a Grammy.
In the 1990s, Fender teamed up with other Tex-Mex musicians to create a supergroup called The Texas Tornados, whose work was highly regarded.
Sadly, Fender’s health has slowed him down somewhat.
Fender has always been open about his health struggles, especially his battles with diabetes and hepatitis C. In 2002, he received a kidney transplant donated by his daughter. Two years later, Fender underwent a liver transplant. Unfortunately, his condition continued to deteriorate.
While Fender is no longer with us, one thing is for sure – his legacy will live on in the hearts of many fans forever.