Mexican-American Singing Legend, the "Lark of the Border" Dies at 91
Her name was Lydia Mendoza and she had a gift that captured the ears and hearts of all who heard her.
ASSOCIATED PRESS: SAN ANTONIO – Lydia Mendoza, a Tejano music pioneer known as "The Lark of the Border," has died. She was 91.
Mendoza, who retired and moved from Houston to San Antonio in 1988 after a series of strokes, died Thursday of natural causes at the Nix Medical Center. She had lived in the nursing home portion of the Chandler Estate for the last three years.
Mendoza, who scored her first big hit "Mal Hombre" (this link has tracks from her most famous songs) in the 1930s, became one of the era's first Mexican American superstars by singing to the poor and downtrodden.
Over time, Mendoza became known as La Alondra de la Frontera (The Lark of the Border), La Cancionera de los Pobres (Songstress of the Poor) and La Gloria de Tejas (The Glory of Texas).
"She was the first and only real voice of Mexican Americans," said Arhoolie Records owner Chris Strachwitz, who co-wrote an autobiography of the Mendoza family for Arte Publico Press. "People always told me that Lydia sang to every class. She sang to the poor, and the wealthy loved her too."
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