Photo: Facebook/Becky Beltz

Fernandez was born in Monterrey, Mexico, in 1918 and moved with her family to San Antonio in her adolescence. Her professional career touched radio, television, and movies. The year 1933 began her radio career when she was selected for WOAI radio’s Gebhart’s Chili Show, one of America’s first commercial radio programs. Television time came on October 6, 1946, when Fernández appeared in the first television program ever transmitted by WOAI-TV. One of her notable films is “The Alamo” with John Wayne, Richard Boone, and Frankie Avalon.

In her lifetime, Fernandez also sang for two popes, five U.S. presidents, two Mexican presidents, the President of Pakistan, Prince Charles, and King Juan Carlos of Spain. She was also inducted into the Tejano Music Hall of Fame and the San Antonio Music Hall of Fame. After an illustrious career, beloved Rosita Fernandez passed away in 2006 at the age of 88.