Ballad of Dan Fernandez
Hurricane 45-6967 · Alburquerque, New Mexico
- Artist
- Los Reyes de Albuquerque
- Title
- Ballad of Dan Fernandez
- Release
- El corrido de Daniel Fernandez / The Ballad of Dan Fernandez
- Label
- Hurricane # 45-6967
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- Spanish
- Country
- Alburquerque, New Mexico, USA
- Songwriter
- Roberto Martinez
- Genre
- Hispanic Music · Corrido · Tejano · Tex-Mex
- Primary theme
- US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs
Annotation — Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs
The song "El Corrido de Daniel Fernandez" (Hurricane Records # 45-6967), backed by an English translated version, called "The Ballad of Daniel Fernandez", released on a Mexican-American label in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The group Los Reyes de Albuquerque ("The Kings of Albuquerque") was led by Roberto Martinez, who composed this song, very active in the 60s and 70s, blending the Mexican-American genres mariachi, ranchera, Tex–Mex, and corridos. (1) Martinez's son was also a musician - Lorenzo Martinez, featured on this list with "A Sigh for My Lai / I Am a Chicano". This was another Vietnam-related Corrido - a Mexican type of song which traditionally spread news and information in Mexican territories through folk music in the late 18th century. Musicians continued this tradition in the US, singing about wars and political events, such as the assassinations of JFK, RFK, and MLK (see "Homenaje a Robert F. Kennedy", "El corrido de John F. Kennedy", and "Memorias del Dr. Martin Luther King" as examples). (2) (3) This one paid tribute to Danny Fernandez - the first Mexican American soldier awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for service in Vietnam. The official Medal of Honor…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
Albuquerque, New Mexico. Led by Roberto Martinez, father of Lorenzo Martinez
Themes
Patriotic · Medal of Honor · VC · K.I.A.
In collections
Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs