Musician. Known as La Alondra de la Frontera (The Lark of the Border), she is considered the queen of Tejano music. She began her career singing and playing guitar in the plazas of downtown San Antonio in the 1930s. In 1934, she released "Mal Hombre" on the Bluebird label, that became a hit on both sides of the border and was her signature song. Other hits included "Rancho Grande", "La Valentina" and "Angel de Mis Anhelos". Mendoza recorded over 200 songs on more than 50 albums, including boleros, rancheras, cumbias and tangos for such labels as RCA, Columbia, Azteca, Peerless, El Zarape and Discos Falcon. In 1977, she sang at President Jimmy Carter's inauguration and she was the first Mexican-American to receive the National Heritage Award in 1982. At a White House ceremony in 1999, President Bill Clinton presented her with the National Medal of Arts Award. She is also a member of the Tejano Music Awards, Tejano Conjunto Festival and Texas Women Halls of Fame.
Musician. Known as La Alondra de la Frontera (The Lark of the Border), she is considered the queen of Tejano music. She began her career singing and playing guitar in the plazas of downtown San Antonio in the 1930s. In 1934, she released "Mal Hombre" on the Bluebird label, that became a hit on both sides of the border and was her signature song. Other hits included "Rancho Grande", "La Valentina" and "Angel de Mis Anhelos". Mendoza recorded over 200 songs on more than 50 albums, including boleros, rancheras, cumbias and tangos for such labels as RCA, Columbia, Azteca, Peerless, El Zarape and Discos Falcon. In 1977, she sang at President Jimmy Carter's inauguration and she was the first Mexican-American to receive the National Heritage Award in 1982. At a White House ceremony in 1999, President Bill Clinton presented her with the National Medal of Arts Award. She is also a member of the Tejano Music Awards, Tejano Conjunto Festival and Texas Women Halls of Fame.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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