LYDIA MENDOZA
BY: Winny Chang
BY: Winny Chang
On May 21, 1916, in Houston Texas, revolutionary
figure in the history of Mexican American music was born. Lydia Mendoza was a
woman in a man’s world, yet she managed to make it in the music industry. Her
career reached its peak in the 1920s to the 1040s. She helped spread the
Mexican culture all over America through her music. The songs she sung embodied
the journey Mexicans went through in the American life. She sang about love and
passion and everywhere she went, she thrilled audience members leaving them
craving for more. Mendoza was talented since the very beginning. Since a young age, she was exposed to the world of music. Her family was all musicians and they played together wherever they could; in restaurants, street sides, and any gig they could get. How Mendoza learned her songs is an interesting story. All her life, she loved chewing gum, and back in the day, music lyrics were printed on the wrappers. Mendoza would memorize these lyrics and put a tune she liked to them. Her father once took her to a concert and from there she used the tune onto a set of lyrics called “Mal Hombre”. This song later becomes her number one hit. Later on into her career, Mendoza’s father becomes ill and as a desperate attempt to get money, the family recorded 20 songs for a company for $140. She was received with positive responses.
However, the rising star’s career takes a turn when the Great Depression hit. Even though the Mendozas’ were now recording artists, they still scrambled back and forth to take whatever job that was available to them. One day the host of a radio program heard Lydia while she was singing for a restaurant. This host invited Lydia to sing a few songs for their radio. Those who heard her immediately fell in love with her and she was asked back to sing with a commercial sponsor offering to pay her $3.50 a week. People loved her voice so much that she was given the nickname “La Alondra de la Frontera” (The Lark of the Border). Mendoza's career lasted for over 60 years, during which she recorded over 50 albums and 200+ songs with multiple labels.
Lydia went on to marry a shoemaker, Juan Alvarado, in 1935. Alvarado opposed Mendoza’s career at first believing that the money made from a musical career was not going to be enough to sustain a family; however, he quickly set aside his objections because she was slowly getting a fatter paycheck with each performance. They had 3 daughters, but becoming a mother did not slow down Mendoza’s career. In fact, she did even better with even more recordings. Mendoza recorded over 220 songs and of the many songs she recorded, she wrote most of it. Her touring days came to an end during WWII when everything was rationed including gas so this limited their traveling opportunities. Mendoza seemed to have a thing for shoemakers because after her first husband died, she married a second one, Fred Martinez, three years after.
Being Latino in America at the time was very hard. Even though Mendoza was well liked by many, she struggled her whole career trying to appeal to non-Latino audiences. Nevertheless, in 1977, President Jimmy Carter invited her to sing at his inauguration. Eventually, Mendoza’s music was appreciated by people nationwide, and she received many awards for her contribution to the music field. These awards included the National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship and the Tejano Music Hall of Fame in 1982, National Medal of Arts in 1999, and many more.
Mendoza kept performing till she fell victim to a stroke causing her to lose her voice and become very weak. She settled down in Houston, and with her all her free time, she wrote an autobiographical narrative documenting her family and her life journey. Lydia Mendoza, an influential figure that touched many with her music, was the Elvis of her culture.
However, the rising star’s career takes a turn when the Great Depression hit. Even though the Mendozas’ were now recording artists, they still scrambled back and forth to take whatever job that was available to them. One day the host of a radio program heard Lydia while she was singing for a restaurant. This host invited Lydia to sing a few songs for their radio. Those who heard her immediately fell in love with her and she was asked back to sing with a commercial sponsor offering to pay her $3.50 a week. People loved her voice so much that she was given the nickname “La Alondra de la Frontera” (The Lark of the Border). Mendoza's career lasted for over 60 years, during which she recorded over 50 albums and 200+ songs with multiple labels.
Lydia went on to marry a shoemaker, Juan Alvarado, in 1935. Alvarado opposed Mendoza’s career at first believing that the money made from a musical career was not going to be enough to sustain a family; however, he quickly set aside his objections because she was slowly getting a fatter paycheck with each performance. They had 3 daughters, but becoming a mother did not slow down Mendoza’s career. In fact, she did even better with even more recordings. Mendoza recorded over 220 songs and of the many songs she recorded, she wrote most of it. Her touring days came to an end during WWII when everything was rationed including gas so this limited their traveling opportunities. Mendoza seemed to have a thing for shoemakers because after her first husband died, she married a second one, Fred Martinez, three years after.
Being Latino in America at the time was very hard. Even though Mendoza was well liked by many, she struggled her whole career trying to appeal to non-Latino audiences. Nevertheless, in 1977, President Jimmy Carter invited her to sing at his inauguration. Eventually, Mendoza’s music was appreciated by people nationwide, and she received many awards for her contribution to the music field. These awards included the National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship and the Tejano Music Hall of Fame in 1982, National Medal of Arts in 1999, and many more.
Mendoza kept performing till she fell victim to a stroke causing her to lose her voice and become very weak. She settled down in Houston, and with her all her free time, she wrote an autobiographical narrative documenting her family and her life journey. Lydia Mendoza, an influential figure that touched many with her music, was the Elvis of her culture.
Bibliography
Website
"U.S. Postal Service Commemorates Tejano Singer Lydia Mendoza With Stamp." Fox News Latino. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
"About Lydia Mendoza." CMT Artists. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
"MENDOZA, LYDIA." ACOSTA, TERESA PALOMO. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
Pictures
"Lydia Mendoza." ARTISTdirect. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
"Lydia Mendoza." Everyday Music:. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
"Lydia Mendoza [1916-2007]." Lydia Mendoza. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
"HASTA QUE EL CUERPO AGUANTE: Junio 2010." HASTA QUE EL CUERPO AGUANTE: Junio 2010. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
Website
"U.S. Postal Service Commemorates Tejano Singer Lydia Mendoza With Stamp." Fox News Latino. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
"About Lydia Mendoza." CMT Artists. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
"MENDOZA, LYDIA." ACOSTA, TERESA PALOMO. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
Pictures
"Lydia Mendoza." ARTISTdirect. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
"Lydia Mendoza." Everyday Music:. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
"Lydia Mendoza [1916-2007]." Lydia Mendoza. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
"HASTA QUE EL CUERPO AGUANTE: Junio 2010." HASTA QUE EL CUERPO AGUANTE: Junio 2010. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.