Trumpet player, composer and arranger Rafael Mendez, one of the music world’s stellar geniuses, spent significant time here in Detroit during the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. After moving to southern California he would become known for his work on Hollywood film soundtracks, traveled the world in a number of famous bands, often featured as a solo performer.
Born in 1906 in Jiquilpan, Mexio he was part of the Mendez family band which caught the attention of the Mexican revolutionary leader Pancho Villa when they performed for him in 1916. Villa was so enamored by the family of musicians he “drafted” the band into his army, the young Rafael becoming his favorite. Villa demanded that Rafael stay with his army even after the family moved on. Months later Rafael was released and went on to perform with several traveling circus bands before joining the Mexican Army in 1921.
At age twenty Rafael Mendez moved to the U.S. first to work in the steel mills of Gary Indiana, later moving to Flint, Michigan where he worked at the Buick Company plant. There he joined the company band. He soon auditioned for and was accepted by the Capitol Theatre Orchestra which led to his move to Detroit. In Detroit he also performed for the Ford and Fox Theatre Orchestras. In Detroit he met and married Amor Rodriguez. In 1932 he suffered a major injury which hampered his trumpet playing. It was then he decided to return to Mexico to study with his father. A year later he returned to the United States, this time to New York to join the famed Rudy Vallee band. After touring California with the Vallee band, he and his wife “fell in love” with southern California and decided to move there in 1937.
You might have heard some of his work and not realized Rafael Mendez was the figure behind some incredible music. If you search on YouTube you will find a significant number of his recorded performances, that included classical, Mexican traditional as well as semi-instructional sessions. One of my favorite YouTube videos is the “Flight of the Bumblebee” widely known as the theme song for the 1960’s Green Hornet series and movie. He was considered by many to be one of the greatest trumpet players of all time, known for his brilliant tone and technique.
In 1939 he joined the MGM Orchestra and played on numerous movie soundtracks. Because of his skill and expertise, he was contracted to arrange music, and would author a number of trumpet method books. His stature grew and he appeared frequently as a soloist with orchestras away from the MGM studios. This included performances on the Bing Cosby, Red Skeleton and Milton Berle shows, all top-rated programs of the time. He also was a regular with the Xavier Cugat Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl. Given the increased demands on his time, he experienced conflicts with the MGM schedule and left the studio orchestra in 1949. The demand for his performances grew to the point he was performing more than 100 concerts a year throughout the United States and Europe.
By the late 1950’s Rafael experienced serious asthma related health problems. This made it difficult for him to play at his accustomed level. This was further complicated when while in Mexico in 1967 he was hit in the face by an errant bat. Though he did recuperate this combined with his overall health issues led him to cut his concert schedule significantly. He retired from performing in 1975 but continued to compose and arrange. He died in 1981 at the age of 75.
Sources: Rafael Mendez Brass Institute Library
