Jesús "El Rayo" Mendoza is a charting singer and songwriter of Mexican regional music. He is part of a millennial generation that has brought new sounds and arrangements to norteño music. Mendoza was born in Michoacán, Mexico, but was brought to the United States by his parents at age two. He was raised in San Clemente in Orange County, California. Music was his pervading interest from childhood on. His musical idols were Valentín Elizalde and Adan Sanchez. Read more on