Fernandez, Rosita

Rosita Fernandez, a long time San Antonian and pioneer of Tejano music, gained international fame as a recording artist and movie star. Born in Monterrey, Mexico, in 1919, Rosita was one of sixteen children and daughter of a military officer. She was educated in Laredo, Texas, and moved to San Antonio with her family when she was nine. Rosita married Raul Almaguer of San Antonio in 1938, and with him raised son Raul Javier Almaguer and daughter Diana Rosa Orellana. Devoted to her family, Rosita chose to remain in San Antonio despite her blossoming career in movies. As Rosita Fernandez's popularity grew, she became known by fans simply as Rosita.

In over sixty years of entertaining, Rosita performed Mexican ballads for foreign and U.S. dignitaries including Pope John Paul II, Prince Charles, and five U.S. presidents. Rosita performed at President Carter's inauguration, and often sang for guests of President and Lady Bird Johnson. It was Lady Bird Johnson who bestowed upon Rosita the title San Antonio's First Lady of Song in 1968 at a special performance for 40 ambassadors at the Arneson River Theatre. It was also in 1968 that Rosita was named an international ambassador for HemisFair, the world's fair held in San Antonio that year. She recorded the song San Antonio: Ciudad de Encantos for the event.

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