Rafael Méndez
Rafael Méndez was a Mexican trumpeter who played in the LA Symphony and the MGM studio orchestra. Renowned for his tone, range, and technique, his repertoire was a mixture of classical, popular, jazz, and Mexican folk music. Over the course of his lifetime, Méndez made over 300 compositions and arrangements for trumpet. He also recorded for the Azteca, Coast, and Pan-American labels but most notably as a member of Mariachi Azteca, backing countless ranchera artists and contributing to the increased popularity of mariachi music in California.