San Benito, Texas – 'Wasted Days and Wasted Nights: A Meteoric Rise to Stardom'
written by Tammy Lorraine Huerta Fender tells the true-life story of
her famous father, the late Baldemar Huerta aka Freddy Fender – The King
of Tex-Mex. As only seen through the eyes of Freddy’s daughter, her
book expresses in intimate detail his rise to success, heartbreaking
fall and final redemption bringing to life the heartfelt memories of a
man and family caught in the whirlwind of great fame, and conveys in a
compassionate yet forthright manner the shattering addictions that
accompanied this fame.
'Wasted Days and Wasted Nights' takes the reader on a journey which
covers Freddy’s early life of brutal poverty as a child migrant worker,
his years as a U.S. Marine, the shocking arrest and imprisonment of his
early 20s, his barrier-breaking singing career as he exploded into and
crossed over different music genres, and the alcohol and drug addiction
from which he suffered.
During his last 21 years of sobriety, Freddy sought spiritual
redemption, practiced forgiveness and made amends in his daily life; he
came to lead by example with the aid of his higher power Jesus Christ.
Freddy Fender was known to millions of people across the world as “an
ordinary man who had extraordinary God-given talents.”
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
About Freddy Fender:
Freddy was a Mexican-American singer who rose from the depths of
poverty, breaking free from a life spent picking cotton and rising to a
life spent picking guitar. In his youth, in 1956, he was the first to
record and sing Spanish rock and roll; he was known as the “Mexican
Elvis” and called “El Bebop Kid.” In the mid-1970s, Fender would become
famous literally overnight as a rock ‘n’ country megastar with his first
two monster hits “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” and “Wasted Days and
Wasted Nights.”
Instantaneously, his records crossed over the Billboard country charts
into the rock and pop charts, each rising to No. 1. He was given a
Country Music Association award for “Single of the Year” and an Academy
of Country Music award as “Most Promising Male Artist” in 1975. His
voice and charismatic personality also made him a nationwide television
celebrity in the ‘70s and ‘80s.
About the Tammy Lorraine Huerta Fender:
Tammy Lorraine Huerta Fender has divided her father’s autobiography into
two books. The first book explores Freddy’s struggles as he achieves
the great American dream. The sequel delves into the darkness of the
addictions that ravaged his and his family’s lives, forcing Freddy to
the realization that he needed a divine intervention. The story of
Freddy’s ultimate healing and hard-won sobriety is a searing story of
faith and redemption. Tammy states that in writing a frank, realistic
book that tells the true story of her father’s life, she is honoring her
father’s last wish; Freddy wanted an authentic, uncompromising book to
be written about his life. And readers will see that his daughter Tammy
has done just that, conveying in honest prose the tale of a child
migrant worker with a passion for music who picked cotton, a
three-string guitar and achieved the great American Dream.
Hall of Fame Member Jean Shepard Releases Long-Awaited Autobiography
"Down Through the Years" Provides First-Hand Account of Grand Ole Opry Matriarch's Over-60-year Career
Country Music Hall of Fame® member, the legendary Jean Shepard has
had quite a story to tell about her life and career, but never had the
right opportunity. Understanding its potential historic significance, Gus Arrendale, President of Springer Mountain Farms Chicken and Larry Black, Executive Producer of "Country’s Family Reunion" put their heads together to help her publish and distribute her long-awaited autobiography. "Down Through the Years" will to be released this week as CMA Music Festival fans descend upon Nashville.
Shepard rolled out this 224-page, beautifully-bound hardback at a special book-signing at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum this Friday, June 6.
Matriarch of the Grand Ole Opry and its longest-standing female member,
Shepard presents a first-hand account of her life and over-60-year
iconic career in her own words (spanning back to the "golden age of
Country Music," through her 2011 induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame® and
beyond), as a "personal conversation with every reader of this book."
After the signing, the book may be purchased exclusively through the Country’s Family Reunion website for $19.99 (plus $6.95 shipping and handling) at cfrvideos.com or by calling 800-820-5405.
"Down Through The Years" features commentary from other Country Music stars including Bill Anderson, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Jim Ed Brown, George Hamilton IV, Del McCoury, Jimmy C. Newman, Connie Smith, Marty Stuart and Mel Tillis, to name a few. Shepard’s book also includes a foreword with annotations by former US Senator Steve Faris (AR), WSM Grand Ole Opry announcer Eddie Stubbs and Gus Arrendale, President of Springer Mountain Farms Chicken, for which Jean is a spokesperson.
Regarded as a pioneer for women in country music, Shepard was signed to Capitol Records at a time when it was thought women could not sell records. Discovered by Hank Thompson following the success of Kitty Wells, Shepard appeared on the first network Country Music television show, "The Ozark Jubilee." Jean was also the first female in Country Music to sell a million records, to make a color television commercial and to overdub her voice on recordings. Shepard’s career has yielded over 45 albums and 70 singles, including "A Dear John Letter," "Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)," "Tips of My Fingers" and "Slipping Away," to name a few. She regularly performs at the Grand Ole Opry and maintains a busy road performance schedule.
Here are a few excerpted facts that you may not have known about Jean Shepard:
- At age 19, Jean couldn't legally travel through the states without a guardian, so Ferlin Husky was granted guardianship. Jean went on to record the duet with Husky “A Dear John Letter” which became a #1 single.
- Shepard started out in an all-girl band called the Melody Ranch Girls with whom she’s stayed in touch throughout her career.
- Johnny Horton was one of Jean’s first boyfriends. She continued to be a close friend until his death in 1960.
- Jean was in a near-fatal bus accident while traveling with Hank Williams Jr. When Jean was eight months pregnant, Jean’s husband, Hawkshaw Hawkins, was killed in a fatal plane crash that also claimed the lives of Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas.
Admired by her peers and emulated by countless up-and-coming female
Country Music singers, Jean Shepard continues to be a strong influence
in traditional music. "Down Through the Years" finally provides a female
artist’s perspective on the "golden age of Country Music."
