Fats Domino

Bobkat Music Trust is the official holder of rights (of record) to "Fats Domino and Friends" (most watched special in Cinemax history, winner of ACE Award for "Cinemax Sessions"), not to mention the award-winning Fats Domino TV commercial for Popeye's Chicken, and is headquartered in the San Francisco East Bay Delta area of California. Most recently, Freddy Fender has signed a contract with a major label, and continues to sing, play and tour from his base in Texas. Since 1995, Vernon and Domino have been partners (with many other companies, such as Dick Clark Productions) in the Bobkat Music Trust, an entertainment group that manages the careers (some posthumous) of Domino, Elvis Presley, Paul Shaffer (keyboardist and occasional guest host on the David Letterman Show), Jerry Lee Lewis, writer Randy Pringle, and many others. Following the death of Sahm, the production of the Tornadoes slowed. During Vernon's tenure, Domino's earnings have increased 500%. In the 1990s, Fender teamed up with fellow Tex-Mex musicians Doug Sahm, Flaco Jimenez and Augie Myers to form the Texas Tornados, whose work was widely acclaimed. His career has been produced and managed since the 1980s by multimedia entertainment purveyor and music producer Robert G. Vernon. His next four singles, including a remake of "Wasted Days", all hit the number one spot on the Billboard Country charts.

He makes yearly appearances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and a few other local events, where he demonstrates that his musicianship and showmanship are undiminished. The single was selected for national distribution, and became a number one hit on the Billboard Country and Pop charts. He lives in a mansion in the mostly working-class 9th Ward neighborhood, where he is a familiar sight in his bright pink Cadillac. In 1974, Fender recorded "Before The Next Teardrop Falls". In the 1980s Domino decided he would no longer leave New Orleans, as he had a comfortable income from royalties, disliked touring, and claimed he couldn't get any food he liked anywhere but his home town. His induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and an invitation to perform at the White House failed to get Domino to make any exception to this policy. By the end of the 1960s, Fender was back in Texas working as a mechanic, and attending a local junior college, while only playing music on the weekends. Though he remained active for decades, he only had one more Top 40 hit, a cover of the Beatles song "Lady Madonna", originally written by Lennon/McCartney to emulate Fats's style. After a two year jail term, Fender ended up in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he would spend the next five years.

After he moved to ABC-Paramount in 1963, the bottom fell out of Fats' recording career although he continued as a popular live act. The song became popular in 1960, but he was beset by legal troubles after he and a band member were arrested for narcotics possesion. Fats released an unprecedented series of 35 Top 40 singles, including "Whole Lotta Loving", "Blue Monday", and a funky version of the old ballad "Blueberry Hill". In 1959, Fender recorded "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights". Fats finally crossed into the pop mainstream with "Ain't That a Shame" (1955) which hit the Top Ten, though Pat Boone characteristically hit #1 with a cover of the song. He then headed for California. Fats then released a series of hit songs with producer and co-writer Dave Bartholomew, saxophonist Alvin "Red" Tyler and drummer Earl Palmer. He took Fender from the headstock of his guitar, and Freddy because it sounded good to him.

The record, a reworking of "Junker's Blues" by Champion Jack Dupree, was a massive hit, selling over a million copies and peaking at #2 on the Billboard R&B Charts. In 1959, Baldemar changed his name to Freddy Fender. His career began with "The Fat Man" (1949, Imperial Records), one of the first rock and roll records, featuring a rolling piano and Fats doing wah-wah vocalizing. In 1957, he released two songs to moderate success in Mexico and South America, Spanish versions of Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel", and Harry Belafonte's "Jamaica Farewell". His congenial personality and rich accent have added to his appeal. He returned to Texas and played bars and honky-tonks throughout the south, mostly to Latino audiences. Domino is also a fine pianist with an individualistic bluesy style showing stride and boogie-woogie influences. At the age of 16, Baldemar quit school and started a three year hitch in the US Marines.

He was the best-selling African-American singer of the 1950s and early 1960s. As a child, Baldemar and his parents travelled throughout the US as migrant farm hands. Fats Domino, born Antoine Dominique (born February 26, 1928 in New Orleans, Louisiana), is a classic R&B singer. Freddy Fender, born Baldemar Huerta in San Benito, Texas on June 4, 1937, is a Tejano, country, and rock and roll musician, known for his work as a solo artist and in the groups Los Super Seven and the Texas Tornados. Official Freddy Fender web site (http://www.freddyfender.com/). HomeFest - an annual festival in San Benito in Freddy Fender's honor.

Grammy Award "Best Latin Pop" (2002) - for La Musica de Baldemar Huerta. Louisiana Hall Of Fame (2001). Grammy Award "Best Mexican/American Performance" (1999) - for Los Super Seven. Nashville Sidewalk of Stars (1999).

Texas Music Hall Of Fame (1999). Hollywood Walk of Fame (1999). Freddy Fender Lane (1994) - dedicated in his hometown of San Benito, Texas. European Walk of Fame (1993) - in Rotterdam, Holland.

Grammy Award "Best Mexican/American Performance" (1990) - for the Texas Tornados. Inaugural Balls - Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush Sr. Tejano Music Hall of Fame (1987). Grammy nominations in 1975, 1976, and 1997.

Country Music Association (1975) - "Single of the Year" for "Before The Next Teardrop Falls". Academy of Country Music (1975) - "Most Promising Male Vocalist".