Tomás Méndez (born ''Tomás Méndez Sosa''; July 25, 1927 – June 19, 1995) was a

Mexican Mexican may refer to: Mexico and its culture *Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America ** People *** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants *** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...

composer and singer of

Mexican music The music of Mexico is highly diverse, featuring a wide range of musical genres and performance styles. It has been influenced by a variety of cultures, primarily deriving from Europeans, Indigenous, and Africans. Music became an expression of M ...

and

ranchera Ranchera () or canción ranchera is a genre of traditional music of Mexico. It dates to before the years of the Mexican Revolution. Rancheras today are played in the vast majority of regional Mexican music styles. Drawing on rural traditional fo ...

music. He was born in

Fresnillo Fresnillo () is a city in north central Mexico, founded in 1554 by Francisco de Ibarra. It is the second largest city in Zacatecas state and the seat of Fresnillo municipality. As a rail and highway junction, Fresnillo is the center of a rich ...

Zacatecas Zacatecas, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Zacatecas, is one of the Political divisions of Mexico, 31 states of Mexico. It is divided into Municipalities of Zacatecas, 58 municipalities and its capital city is Zacatecas City, Zacatec ...

, Mexico. He became famous thanks to his partnership with the singer

Lola Beltrán María Lucila "Lola" Beltrán Ruiz (7 March 1932 – 24 March 1996) was a Mexican actress and singer. She is and was one of Mexico's most acclaimed singers of Ranchera and Huapango music. She collaborated with other Mexican music stars such as ...

in the 1950s, which began with the song "Gorrioncillo pecho amarillo" in 1954 and continued with further hits such as "

Cucurrucucú paloma "Cucurrucucú paloma" (Spanish for ''Coo-coo dove'') is a Mexican huapango-style song written by Tomás Méndez in 1954. The title is an onomatopeic reference to the characteristic call of the mourning dove, which is evoked in the refrain. The ly ...

", "Tres días" and "Bala perdida". He died in

Mexico City Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...

on June 19, 1995. The song "Cucurrucucú paloma" was played in many movie pictures like '' The Last Sunset'', '' Happy Together'', ''

Talk to Her ''Talk To Her'' () is a 2002 Spanish psychological melodrama film, written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar. It stars: Javier Cámara, Darío Grandinetti, Leonor Watling, Geraldine Chaplin, and Rosário Flores. The film follows two men who f ...

'' and ''

The Five Year Engagement ''The Five-Year Engagement'' is a 2012 American romantic comedy film written, directed, and produced by Nicholas Stoller. Produced with Judd Apatow and Rodney Rothman, it is co-written by Jason Segel, who also stars in the film with Emily Blunt as ...

'' and has also been covered by notable singers such as

Harry Belafonte Harry Belafonte ( ; born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.; March 1, 1927 – April 25, 2023) was an American singer, actor, and civil rights activist who popularized calypso music with international audiences in the 1950s and 1960s. Belafonte ...

Perry Como Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como (; May 18, 1912 – May 12, 2001) was an American singer, actor, and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century, he recorded exclusively for RCA Victor for 44 years, from 1943 until 1987 ...

, and

Caetano Veloso Caetano Emanuel Viana Teles Veloso (; born 7 August 1942) is a Brazilian composer, singer, guitarist, writer, and political activist. Veloso first became known for his participation in the Brazilian musical movement Tropicália, which encompas ...

Songs

*"Pobre Leña de Pirul" *"Gorrioncillo pecho amarillo" *"

" *"Golondrina presumida" *"Huapango torero" *"Las rejas no matan" *"Que me toquen las golondrinas" *"

Paloma negra "Paloma Negra" is a ranchera song written by Tomás Méndez and originally released by Chavela Vargas in 1961 on her self-titled debut album. The song was later featured on the soundtrack to the Academy Award-nominated biopic ''Frida''. "Paloma ...

" *"Puñalada trapera" *"Tres Fritos burritos" *"La Muerte de Un Gallero" *"La Melina Que Se Fue"

References

External links

* (Spanish) 1927 births 1995 deaths People from Fresnillo Mexican male composers Ranchera singers 20th-century Mexican composers 20th-century Mexican male singers {{mexico-composer-stub