Friends converge on Freddy Fender residence

But please, folks, e-messages only, singer's wife says

An outpouring of support for Freddy Fender had the legendary musician and his wife fending off well-intentioned visitors and phone callers to their home Wednesday after news of his struggle with cancer.

"All the people calling, coming over and praying for Freddy is heartfelt," said Vangie Huerta, his wife of 50 years. "We've had lots of calls, and even had to put some no trespassing signs out to keep fans from coming onto our humble property."

Huerta said they're appreciative of the strong show of support, but it has been exhausting for her husband. She added that the family prefers well-wishers contact them through e-mail or Fender's Web site.

The 69-year-old Grammy winner and Billboard chart-topper said Tuesday the 11 cancerous lumps on his lungs haven't hurt his voice and, despite losing 25 pounds, he still feels like singing.

"Even sick at his worst moment, Freddy's humming something or singing," Huerta said. "It breaks my heart, and yet it's amazing."

Fender, one of few Hispanic stars in country music, was born Baldemar Huerta in a family of migrant laborers in San Benito, on June 4, 1937. He began playing guitar early in his childhood.

Those close to him say his positive attitude is inspiring.

"Wow," said Joe H. Hernandez, 62, mayor of Fender's hometown. "His health problems have been devastating news to our community, but he's a very brave person outside of being talented, and I'm overjoyed he's so positive."

About 10 years ago, Fender's hometown erected the San Benito Arts Center to honor the singer and city officials renamed the street he was raised on, El Jardin, to Freddy Fender Lane. In 2004, the community dedicated the city's water tower to Fender by crafting a lighted sign with his image that reads "Hometown of Freddy Fender."

Now a group named Friends of Freddy Fender is planning a museum to honor him, Hernandez said.

"He's accepted fame with grace," said Ron Rogers, 60, a hometown friend of the musician who presented the utilities board with the water tower sign idea. "Everybody in the Rio Grande Valley has a Freddy Fender story," Rogers said, "he's transcended ethnic barriers."

Fender, who began his career in the late '50s, topped the Billboard charts throughout the decades with "Before the Next Teardrop Falls," "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights," and "You'll Lose A Good Thing."

Valray Renay Hernandez, 23, said she fell in love with Fender at her first concert as a first-grader in Austin's St. Elmo Elementary School.

"The way he moved to the rhythm of his music made me love music more for the rest of my life," said the Corpus Christi bookkeeper and mother. "I was really upset to hear he was sick he's in my prayers."

Fender is a noticeable presence in South Texas. In 2005, he performed in the inaugural concert at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi's Performing Arts Center. He was the first celebrity music maker honored with a star in the South Texas Music Walk of Fame, said Evelyn Sue Donahoe, 55. She opened a record store in Austin in the early 1990s, then in 2003 helped open Surf Club Records in Corpus Christi and spawned the now 18-star music walk in the courtyard of the Water Street Market.

Walking across that plaza with Fender is one of her most cherished memories.