Biography

Born in Cashaucro (Oyón), Lima, Peru in 1944, Mario Mendoza is a singer and composer of traditionally inspired Andean music. A musician since childhood, Mendoza made his first recordings during the late '50s with Los Romanceros de Cashaucro. In the proceeding decades as a solo artist, he became one of the most important representatives of his country's (and region's) folk music, highlighting in particular his fondness for Huayno and Andean harp. Although virtually unknown to the rest of the world until the 21st century, he released several albums recorded in the field for Smithsonian Folkways, and his songs have appeared on UNESCO samplers including Argentina: Tritonic Music the Northwest and Musical Sources: Musicales - A UNESCO Sampler. In the 21st century, Lo Mejor del Incomparable Mario Mendoza was issued by Disvensa and attracted attention in Europe. In 2017, a digital reissue of his self-titled album placed on many world music streaming charts and landed at number one on Billboard's World Albums chart, while his many videos, shot in the field in Peru, netted hundreds of thousands of views. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi