Rafael Méndez Library honors famed trumpeter and composer

Rafael Méndez

The School of Music is home to the Rafael Méndez Library, which was established in 1993 to honor the memory of the famed Hollywood trumpet/composer and to inspire and educate aspiring musicians and interested arts advocates. The library is under the directorship of Arizona Regents' Professor of Trumpet David Hickman and is operated by the Summit Brass.

The Rafael Méndez Library was founded through the generous support of the sons of Mr. Méndez, Dr. Rafael G. Méndez, Jr., and Dr. Robert Méndez, II, and the Méndez family.

A large number of items are on display in the library, which houses numerous musical instruments, as well as hundreds of photographs, articles and recordings. There are more than 300 original manuscripts and approximately 700 sets of parts of Méndez compositions and arrangements.

A spacious conference area is available for classes to study and discuss Méndez work. An audio-visual system enables groups to view videotapes of Méndez performances and clinics, or to listen to his many recordings. A room adjacent to the library, houses all music holdings, which are available for rental to bands and orchestras. The entire holdings of the library have been catalogued by computer and are available for use by researchers.

Rafael Méndez was born on March 26, 1906, in Jiquilpan, Michoacan, Mexico. One of 15 children, Méndez began playing the cornet as a youngster in order to perform with the family orchestra led by his father, Maximino.

When Rafael was 10 years old, the Méndez Orchestra played for the Mexican revolutionist, General Pancho Villa, who "invited" the group to travel with him. After a few months, all the members of the orchestra were sent home, except for Rafael who had become Villa's favorite musician. He stayed on for another six months before being sent home.

At the age of 20, Méndez moved to the U.S., settling in Detroit, Michigan where he worked in an automobile factory and also played trumpet professionally with bands and orchestras area. During that time, he met and married Amor Rodriguez Fernandez.

In 1932 while playing at the Fox Theatre, he was accidentally hit in the mouth by a swinging door. Unable to play the trumpet, Mendez returned to Mexico for advice and instruction from his father. Following months of rehabilitation, Méndez returned to Detroit where he caught the attention of well-known bandleader Rudy Valle.

Méndez moved to New York City in 1934 to join the Rudy Valle Orchestra. There he met a number of prominent bandleaders and entertainers, including David Rose, Xavier Cugat, and Carlos Molino. In 1937, Méndez and Rose were offered jobs in Los Angels for KHL Radio. That same year, Rafael and Amor had twin sons, Robert and Rafael, Jr. During this time, Méndez was often featured as soloist on radio programs, and he began composing and arranging trumpet solos.

In 1941, Méndez became first trumpet in the MGM studio orchestra, a position that he held for eight years. While with MGM, he developed his solo repertoire and was a guest performer on dozens of television shows. He was also featured at the Hollywood Bowl and on soundtracks for major motion pictures. During this time, Méndez also began recording 78-rpm records for small labels, such as Coast, Azteca and Eleayz.

Méndez was signed by Decca Records in 1945, and over the next 20 years, he recorded 12 LP records (which were re-mastered for a commemorative set). He also began publishing many of his solos through Koff Music Company and Carol Fischer, Inc. In 1949, Méndez left MGM to devote much of his time to touring and performing with thousands of high school and college bands and orchestras, and professional ensembles. His summers were spent as music director for Roy Rogers, Red Skelton and other celebrities.

Enjoying a reputation unequaled in the classical trumpet world and hailed as the "Heifetz of the Trumpet," Méndez retired from the concert stage in 1975 due to respiratory problems. He died in 1981. During his lifetime, he composed or arranged more than 300 trumpet solos or trios. Posthumously, Méndez received a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame in 1983.

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