Rafael Mendez
Known as the "Heifetz of the Trumpet," Rafael Méndez was one of 15 children in his family. His father, Maximino, conducted a family orchestra in which Rafael played cornet. Emigrating to the United States at the age of 20, Méndez settled in Detroit. By day, he worked in an automobile factory and by night, would play with local bands and orchestras. He was unable to play after being hit in the face by a swinging door while at the the Fox Theatre in 1932. Méndez returned to Mexico, where his father helped him rehabilitate his playing. When he returned to Detroit, he met bandleader Rudy Vallee, and Méndez became a member of his radio orchestra, moving to New York City in 1934. Three years later, he was offered a job in Los Angeles for KHL radio, where he was a frequent soloist and where he began composing and arranging. Over the course of his lifetime, Méndez made over 300 compositions and arrangements for the trumpet. Between 1941-1949 Méndez was first trumpet in the MGM studio orchestra, which gave him the opportunity to perform as featured soloist at the Hollywood Bowl. He also recorded numerous 78 rpm records for small labels, such as Coast, Azteca, and Eleayz. Méndez was signed as a Decca recording artist in 1945, and over the next 20 years, he recorded a dozen records. When Méndez left MGM, he turned to touring and performing, often with student and amateur ensembles as well as professional groups, and to acting as music director for such radio and TV stars as Roy Rogers and Red Skelton. Méndez retired from performing in 1975 due to respiratory problems.
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Discography
14 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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The Legendary Trumpet Virtuosity Of Rafael Mendez Volume 1
Classical - Released by Summit Records on 1/04/1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Trumpet & Spanish Guitar
Rafael Mendez, Laurindo Almeida
Jazz - Released by Vintage Music on 15/02/2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Trumpet Magic Of Rafael Mendez
Pop - Released by Planet Blue Records on 1/01/1961
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rafael Mendez: The World's Greatest Trumpet Virtuoso
Jazz - Released by Blue Moon on 24/07/2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Armando Manzanero In Memoriam (1935/2020) (Instrumental)
Rafael Mendez, Latin Dreams Band, Bebu Silvetti
World - Released by Music MGP on 10/01/2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rafael Méndez y Su Orquesta (2023 Remaster from the Original Azteca Tapes)
World - Released by Azteca on 24/03/2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Con Mariachi
Humour/Spoken Word - Released by Ranchero Music on 27/07/1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Virtuoso Music for Horn & Piano
Classical - Released by Albany Records on 1/08/2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Trumpet Magic of Rafael Mandez
Pop - Released by Blue Pie Records USA on 1/01/1961
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Singing Trumpet
Latin America - Released by Blue Pie Records USA on 1/01/1959
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Trumpet Extraordinary
Latin America - Released by Planet Blue Records on 1/01/1957
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Trumpet Extraordinary
Latin America - Released by Blue Pie Records USA on 1/01/1957
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Manzanero & Juan Gabriel en Trompeta
World - Released by Music MGP on 12/12/2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo