Rafael Muñoz

Rafael Muñoz Medina (September 5, 1900 – September 2, 1961) was a Puerto Rican double bassist and big band director. His repertoire consistent mainly of guarachas, congas and boleros. He was a prolific bandleader from 1929 until his retirement in the 1950s. His hits include "Sandunguera", "El hueso de María", "La conga del 39" and "Ojos malvados". The primary lead vocalists of his orchestra were José Luis Moneró, Félix Castrillón and his son Raffi Muñoz. Other singers that performed with his band were Tony Sánchez and Irma Morillo.

Birth and Death Data: Born Quebradillas (municipality in Puerto Rico), Died September 2, 1961

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1933 - 1955

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, composer, songwriter

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 82 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-76132 10-in. 5/16/1933 Reparte las propinas Orquesta Victor Antillana Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-76384 10-in. 6/5/1933 Espera Lorenzo Herrera Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble songwriter  
Victor BS-77462 10-in. 8/14/1933 Reparte las propinas Alberto Socarrás y Consuelo Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-022948 10-in. before 4/29/1938 Piripiti Orquesta Rafael Muñoz Re-recording : Instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-022949 10-in. before 4/29/1938 Besos brujos Orquesta Rafael Muñoz Re-recording : Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor BS-022950 10-in. before 4/29/1938 Tú Orquesta Rafael Muñoz Re-recording : Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor BS-022951 10-in. before 4/29/1938 Dudas Orquesta Rafael Muñoz Re-recording : Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor BS-022952 10-in. before 4/29/1938 Boquita sabrosa Orquesta Rafael Muñoz Re-recording : Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor BS-022953 10-in. before 4/29/1938 Ojos negros Orquesta Rafael Muñoz Re-recording : Instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-022954 10-in. before 4/29/1938 Serenata Orquesta Rafael Muñoz Re-recording : Instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-023657 10-in. before 7/5/1938 Malditos celos Félix Castrillón ; Orquesta Rafael Muñoz Re-recording : Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor BS-023658 10-in. 7/5/1938 Terrible duda Félix Castrillón ; Orquesta Rafael Muñoz Re-recording : Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor BS-041621 10-in. before 8/9/1939 Desilusión José Luis Monero ; Rafael Muñoz ; Orquesta del Escambrón Beach Club Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor BS-041622 10-in. before 8/9/1939 Por qué te quiero José Luis Monero ; Rafael Muñoz ; Orquesta del Escambrón Beach Club Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor BS-041623 10-in. before 8/9/1939 Jardinero de amor José Luis Monero ; Rafael Muñoz ; Orquesta del Escambrón Beach Club Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor BS-041624 10-in. before 8/9/1939 Sigue como eres José Luis Monero ; Rafael Muñoz ; Orquesta del Escambrón Beach Club Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor BS-041625 10-in. before 8/9/1939 Amanecer José Luis Monero ; Rafael Muñoz ; Orquesta del Escambrón Beach Club Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor BS-041626 10-in. before 8/9/1939 No olvido tu querer José Luis Monero ; Rafael Muñoz ; Orquesta del Escambrón Beach Club Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor BS-041627 10-in. before 8/9/1939 Quiéreme más José Luis Monero ; Rafael Muñoz ; Orquesta del Escambrón Beach Club Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor BS-041628 10-in. before 8/9/1939 Yo he vivido soñando José Luis Monero ; Rafael Muñoz ; Orquesta del Escambrón Beach Club Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor BS-042871 10-in. before 10/2/1939 El cuento de los bobos José Luis Monero ; Rafael Muñoz ; Orquesta del Escambrón Beach Club Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor BS-042872 10-in. before 10/2/1939 Di, corazón José Luis Monero ; Rafael Muñoz ; Orquesta del Escambrón Beach Club Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor BS-042873 10-in. before 10/2/1939 La conga del '39 José Luis Monero ; Rafael Muñoz ; Orquesta del Escambrón Beach Club Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor BS-042875 10-in. before 10/2/1939 Tres besos José Monero ; Rafael Muñoz ; Orquesta del Escambrón Beach Club Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor BS-042876 10-in. before 10/2/1939 El hueso de María José Luis Monero ; Rafael Muñoz ; Orquesta del Escambrón Beach Club Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
(Results 1-25 of 82 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Muñoz, Rafael," accessed December 25, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113206.

Muñoz, Rafael. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 25, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113206.

"Muñoz, Rafael." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 25 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113206

External Sources

Wikipedia: Rafael Muñoz (musician)

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Muñoz, Rafael (Conductor) - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2006096489

Wikidata: Rafael Muñoz (musician) - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q7282230

VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/64207919

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

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