[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 11991]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     TRIBUTE TO ROSITA FERNANDEZ, SAN ANTONIO'S FIRST LADY OF SONG

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CHARLES A. GONZALEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 20, 2006

  Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Rosita 
Fernandez, a San Antonio icon and a giant in Tejano music, In a career 
spanning six decades, she was one of the first Latinas to cross over 
into Anglo American mainstream media and appeared in television shows, 
radio broadcasts and major studio movies, Rosita performed for Pope 
John Paul II, Prince Charles and five U.S. Presidents including 
President Carter for his inauguration.
  She introduced Mexican culture to a wider audience and was an 
ambassador for Latino cultures. First Lady Lady Bird Johnson named her 
``San Antonio's First Lady of Song,'' yet in San Antonio, we knew her 
as ``Rosita'' and were very proud that she represented our community.
  She began singing at the age of 9 shortly after her family made their 
way from Monterrey, Mexico, to San Antonio. Rosita adapted to each new 
mode of entertainment. In the 1920's, she performed throughout south 
Texas with her uncles in the ``Trio San Miguel.'' As radio grew more 
popular, Rosita began broadcasting on a W.O.A.I. program, As W.O.A.I. 
moved into television, so did Rosita as she appeared in the station's 
first broadcast. Thereafter, Rosita performed in a weekly series. Yet, 
she made recording the foundation of her career and cut hundreds of 
records over the duration of her career. Her recordings will perpetuate 
her brilliance and be a lasting contribution to American culture.
  Rosita was a pioneer in popularizing a number of styles including 
canciones romanticas and the bolero, a hybrid style that fused African 
and Hispanic styles. At a time when the ranchera style was ascendent, 
Rosita breathed new life into canciones romanticas, which entailed 
complex orchestral arrangements.
  Rosita achieved success on the silver screen. She appeared opposite 
John Wayne in ``The Alamo,'' and played the lead in Disney's 1963 film, 
``Sancho, The Homing Steer,'' which was based on J. Frank Dobie's true 
story. But, at a time, when most Americans did not have first hand 
experience with Latinos, figures like Rosita or Desi Arnaz began to 
change perceptions and biases against our community. Rosita was the 
consummate cultural ambassador for San Antonio and Latinos throughout 
America.
  Beginning in the 1950's, Rosita performed at the Arneson River 
Theater every year during the ``Fiesta Noche del Rio.'' San Antonio 
could look forward to a summer full of their beloved Rosita performing 
at the beautiful amphitheater on the Riverwalk in La Villita. It was 
there during the 1968 Hemisfair that Rosita performed for 40 
ambassadors. She became so inseparable from that place that San Antonio 
named an adjacent bridge for her and many said that this bridge 
symbolized the way Rosita brought Mexican and American cultures 
together.
  She began a much deserved retirement in 1982 that concluded her 
performing career but began her philanthropic career. Rosita sang for 
numerous causes and charities and appeared at a wide range of locales 
to do so. Among the causes she supported were the Brooke Army Medical 
Center's Burn Unit, the March of Dimes, and churches. Yet, the cause 
she worked hardest to promote was that of education. After spending her 
life bridging cultures and educating America about Latinos, it is 
fitting that she chose to focus her talents on helping others cross the 
bridge from ignorance to knowledge.
  San Antonio suffered a great loss and my thoughts and prayers go out 
to her husband and her family.

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