Drag Performer Sweet Savage Dead at 58

January 24, 2020 - San Antonio

Freddie Cortez, professionally known as Sweet Savage, was greatly admired for his tributes to Cher. He passed away this week at the age of 58. Photo: Facebook.

Freddie Cortez, professionally known as Sweet Savage, was greatly admired for his tributes to Cher. He passed away this week at the age of 58. Photo: Facebook.

Article By: Jade Esteban Estrada - Writer, San Antonio Sentinel

Freddie Cortez, known to fans across the state as drag entertainer Sweet Savage, died Tuesday at the age of 58 after a prolonged illness that left him in a coma for many months.

Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, Cortez began his drag career in the 1980s and was widely known for his veracious tributes to Cher. In the past, the LGBTQ pageant circuit was traditionally the sole gateway to more bookings, higher earnings and industry-wide fame. Cortez’s title wins included Miss Gay San Antonio American 1986, Miss Gay Texas American 1989, Miss Gay USofA 1993, Texas Entertainer of the Year, Miss Gay Texas USofA Classic 2004, Miss Texas Continental Elite 2016 and many more.

Cortez was a star of San Antonio’s golden age of drag, having appeared alongside prominent entertainers like Shady Lady, Erica Andrews, Pauletta Leigh, Beth Evans, Naomi Sims and Victoria West. Described by peers as a positive influence in the community, Cortez is remembered fondly by Greg Hinojosa and Daniel Acosta, the founders of Fiesta Frenzy, a popular annual fundraising event now in its 21st year. The organization recently chose Sweet Savage as one of their community service-award recipients, but Cortez refused the honor. “I was confused,” Hinojosa said in a phone interview. “She said, ‘Don’t give me an award. You should be getting an award for all the years you’ve been [helping] the community.’”

Hinojosa also described Cortez as someone who was always willing to help others backstage during performances. For many young performers, the Edinburg native was a drag mother and mentor. “I can still hear [him] telling me, ‘Proper planning prevents poor performance,’” recounted Amunique Andrews on social media.

“It makes me happy seeing how many people loved Freddie,” wrote Illiyana Mireya Cortez, Freddie’s niece via Facebook Messenger. “When I finally came out to the family when I was 15, I told [Freddie] I had a girlfriend. Freddie drove to Austin to see us and she looked at me and said, “I heard you’re a part of my other family, too.’ She said, ‘Baby, love who you love.’ I cried and we hugged.”

Over next few weeks, there will be drag shows in Houston, Dallas, Lubbock and San Antonio in honor of the legendary performer who touched many lives in the LGBTQ community.

A memorial service for Cortez has been scheduled from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, February 2, 2020 at Randy’s Ballroom located at 1534 Bandera Road in San Antonio.

Jade Esteban Estrada covers LGBTQ issues for the San Antonio Sentinel. Email him at jade@sasentinel.com.