Mendoza is a surname of Basque origin, also occurring as a place name. It means Cold Mountain, from words in the Basque language, mendi (mountain) and (h)otz (cold) + definite article '-a' (Mendoza being mendi+(h)otza). When related to Spain, it usually applies to the descendants of the Mendoza family, an old basque noble family originally from Alava. The spelling of place names in basque has varied from the original 'mendotza' to 'mendontze' in the 1890s, 'mendoche' in the 1920s, 'mendotxe' in the 1980s to the restored original of 'mendotza' being the current.^[1]

People having this name include:

People[link]

In academia

• Roger Lee Mendoza, American economist and scholar

In business

• Eugenio Mendoza, Venezuelan businessman
• Lorenzo Mendoza, Venezuelan businessman
• Tom Mendoza, Vice Chairman of NetApp, Inc. and namesake of Notre Dame's business school

In the arts and entertainment

• Amalia Mendoza, Mexican singer
• Brillante Mendoza, Filipino film director
• Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2008
• Eduardo Mendoza Ceballos, Spanish novelist
• Grace Jones (b. Grace Mendoza), Jamaican-American singer, model, actress
• Hazel Ann Mendoza, Filipina actress
• Linda Mendoza, American film and television director
• Lydia Mendoza, Tex-Mex singer and interpreter of "corridos"
• Mandoza, a South African musician famous for the Kwaito song 50/50
• Marco Mendoza, bass player
• Natalie Mendoza, Hong Kong-born Australian actress and musician
• Rebecca Jackson Mendoza, Australian actress, singer and dancer
• Thristan Mendoza, Filipino musician

In fiction

• Rodrigo Mendoza, fictional character of the movie The Mission

In military

• César Mendoza, Chilean soldier
• Pedro de Mendoza, conquistador
• Bernardino de Mendoza, Captain General

In politics and government

• Antonio de Mendoza, first Viceroy of New Spain
• Bernardino de Mendoza, Spanish statesman and ambassador
• Carlos Antonio Mendoza, acting President of Panama
• César Mendoza, Chilean soldier
• Cristóbal Mendoza, First President of Venezuela
• Eduardo Mendoza Goiticoa, a Venezuelan cabinet minister and scientist
• Inés Mendoza, wife of Puerto Rico Governor Luis Muñoz Marín
• Juan González de Mendoza, Spanish minister and historian
• Leandro Mendoza, Philippine Secretary of Transportation and Communications
• Pedro González de Mendoza, Spanish cardinal and statesman
• Susana Mendoza, Chicago, Illinois politician
• Victoria Muñoz Mendoza, Puerto Rico politician

In religion

• Pedro González de Mendoza, Spanish cardinal and statesman

In royalty

• Ana de Mendoza e de la Cerda, Spanish aristocrat
• Beatriz Fajardo de Mendoza y de Guzmán, Baroness of Polop and Benidorm

In sport

• Alvin Mendoza, Mexican football (soccer) player
• Ana Mendoza, Mexican breaststroke swimmer
• Carlos Mendoza, baseball player
• Daniel Mendoza, English boxer
• Gabriel Mendoza, Chilean football (soccer) player
• Jessica Mendoza, American softball player
• Jesús Mendoza, Mexican football player
• Jonny Mendoza, Venezuelan boxer
• Mario Mendoza, baseball player
• Mike Mendoza, baseball player
• Ramiro Mendoza, baseball player
• Rigoberto Mendoza, Cuban marathon runner
• Saúl Mendoza, disabled athlete

This name may refer to:

See also[link]

• Mendonça (disambiguation), Portuguese variation

References[link]

Lydia Mendoza (May 21, 1916 – December 20, 2007) was an American guitarist and singer of Tejano, conjunto, and traditional Mexican-American music. She is known as "La Alondra de la Frontera" (or "The Lark of the Border" in English).

Mendoza was born on May 21, 1916, in Houston, Texas. She learned to sing and play stringed instruments from her mother and grandmother. In 1928, as part of the family group, Cuarteto Carta Blanca, she made her first recordings for the Okeh Records label in San Antonio, Texas.

In the early 1930s, Mendoza came to the attention of Manuel J. Cortez, a pioneer of Mexican-American radio broadcasting. Her live radio performances set the stage for her 1934 recordings on the Bluebird Records label, a subsidiary of RCA Victor. Her recording, "Mal Hombre", became an overnight success and led to an intensive schedule of touring and recording.

After World War II, Mendoza recorded for many of the major Mexican-American record labels mostly located in Texas. She continued actively performing and recording up until a stroke in 1988 slowed her schedule down. Many of her recordings are still available including those issued by Arhoolie Records, a California-based label specializing in the release of regional forms of American music.

Over the years, Lydia Mendoza was the recipient of numerous awards and honors: In 1982, she became the first Texan to receive the National Heritage Fellowship lifetime achievement award from the National Endowment for the Arts. In 1999, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts, and in 2003, she was among the second group of recipients to be awarded the Texas Medal of Arts by the Texas Cultural Trust.^[1][2][3]

Lydia Mendoza died on December 20, 2007, in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 91. She is interred at San Fernando Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.^[4]

References[link]

1. ^ Associated Press. "Talented Texans to be honored," Houston Chronicle, February 7, 2003, page 2.
2. ^ "Thanks for telling the story of Texas through the arts" (editorial), Austin American-Statesman, February 9, 2003.
3. ^ "Legislature honors 13 artists, patrons," San Antonio Express-News, March 26, 2003, page 2B.
4. ^ "The passing of Lydia Mendoza". richmond.edu. http://historyengine.richmond.edu/episodes/view/5320. Retrieved February 4, 2012. 

External links[link]

• a profile of Lydia Mendoza on National Public Radio
• John Burnett, Lydia Mendoza: The First Lady Of Tejano, National Public Radio
• Obituary in SF Gate

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (February 2008)

Richard Fortus (born November 17, 1966) is a professional guitarist who is most famous for being one of the guitarists in Guns N' Roses.

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Fortus cut his teeth throughout the Midwest with his band, The Eyes. The four-piece alternative band independently released "Freedom in a Cage", which was produced by David Probst. After signing with Atlantic Records, they changed their name to Pale Divine. They subsequently toured the U.S. in support of their only album, Straight to Goodbye, opening for The Psychedelic Furs.

After The Psychedelic Furs split up, Fortus formed Love Spit Love with Richard and Tim Butler. When The Furs reformed in 2000, Fortus joined the group as second guitarist and played on the live album 'Beautiful Chaos: Greatest Hits Live'.

Fortus has since left Love Spit Love and is now a member of Guns N' Roses, replacing Axl Rose's childhood friend Paul Tobias. In Guns N' Roses, Richard plays both rhythm and lead guitar. Axl is very pleased with Richard's work and has said, "He's an amazing lead player and very technically skilled. He really likes the pocket that Brain sets and the two of them click with Tommy so we finally have the real deal rhythm section, as Richard is a proven professional. Basically, Richard's the guy that we always were looking for."

- On November 5, 2005, Richard's wife, Jen Fortus, gave birth to a daughter. Her name is Paisley Piper Fortus.

- On March 2008 it was announced that Richard was one of the guest guitarist on the upcoming shows of X Japan at the Tokyo Dome.^[1]

Equipment[link]

Richard uses the listed equipment for the Guns N' Roses 2012 Club Tour ^[2]

Guitars

• 1968 Gibson Les Paul Custom Reissue Black
• 1958 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop
• Gibson ES-355 White
• Custom Shop Gibson Les Paul Baritone Distressed Black
• Gibson ES-135 Black w/ Graphics
• Gretsch Chet Atkins Red w/ Single Bridge Pickup
• James Trussart SteelCaster
• James Trussart SteelDeville "Worn"
• James Trussart SteelDeville "Polished"
• Taylor Acoustic Guitars

Amps

• Egnater M4 Modular Preamp
• Randall RT2/50 Power Amp
• Marshall EL34 100/100 Power Amp (Modified by Voodoo Amps)
• Marshall 1973 SLP modded by Jose Arredondo
• Marshall SLP modded by Voodo Amps to replicate his Jose-modded amp
• Motherload Elemental Cabinet Simulator
• Hermit Cab Custom Isolation Cabinets w/ Celestion Alnico Gold speakers

Effects

• Electro-Harmonix HOG Harmonic Generator
• Boss Hyper Fuzz Distortion
• MXR Phase 90 Scripted Logo Phaser
• DOD FX25 Envelope Filter
• Hiwatt Custom Tape Echo
• Dunlop Cry Baby Rackmount Wah
• TC Electronic G-Major 2 Effect Processors
• Yamaha AG Stomp Acoustic Effect Processor
• Fishman Aura Spectrum Acoustic DI
• Prescription electronics Vibe Unit
• Xotic RC Booster Clean Boost
• Strymon OB.1 Compressor
• Arion Stereo Chorus
• Pigtronix Echolution Delay
• Lovepedal Eternity Overdrive
• Emma discumBOBulator Envelope Filter

Misc

• Access Electronics FX1 MIDI Footcontroller
• Lindy Fralin, Jason Lollar, Arcane pickups and RS Guitar Works electronics
• RotoSound .10 - .52 gauge strings

References[link]

External links[link]

• 4tus.com - Official Website of Richard Fortus
• http://firstact.com/Artists/Richard_Fortus.aspx

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (May 2010)

Marco Mendoza
Mendoza with Thin Lizzy at Aberdeen Music Hall, January 6, 2011
Background information
Born	(1963-05-03) May 3, 1963 (age 49) San Diego, California, United States
Genres	Hard rock, heavy metal
Occupations	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, bass guitar, guitar
Years active	1990–present
Labels	Frontiers Records
Associated acts	Blue Murder, John Sykes, Thin Lizzy, Ted Nugent, Soul SirkUS, Whitesnake
Website	Official website

Marco Mendoza (born May 3, 1963) is an American rock musician, the bass guitarist with Thin Lizzy.

Career[link]

Mendoza started playing the guitar at an early age, adopting the bass guitar when he was invited to join a band that needed a player. He played in John Sykes' band Blue Murder, from 1991 until 1993. In 1994, he was recruited into a reformed lineup of Thin Lizzy, also featuring Sykes, with guitarist Scott Gorham, keyboard player Darren Wharton and drummer Brian Downey. After some preliminary one-off concerts, the band toured more consistently from 1996 until 2000, replacing the departing Downey with Tommy Aldridge and releasing the live album One Night Only.^[1]

From 2000 to 2003 Mendoza recorded and toured with Ted Nugent, and in 2004 he toured with Whitesnake, another band that once featured Sykes and Aldridge, and appeared on their DVD Live... In the Still of the Night. Also in 2004, Mendoza guested on keyboardist Derek Sherinian's solo album Mythology. However, he returned to Thin Lizzy in 2005, replacing Randy Gregg. He left the band in 2007, and subsequently toured with ex-Dokken guitarist George Lynch in his band Lynch Mob.

Mendoza onstage with Thin Lizzy

After Sykes left Thin Lizzy in 2009, Mendoza rejoined the band for a third stint, this time with Gorham, Wharton, Downey, singer Ricky Warwick and guitarist Vivian Campbell. This lineup of Thin Lizzy toured Europe throughout 2011, before a US tour at the end of the year, and a further tour of Europe in early 2012. The band is considering recording new material in 2012, which would be the first Thin Lizzy studio recordings since the Phil Lynott era.^[2]

On July 6, 2007, Mendoza released his first solo album Live for Tomorrow, through Frontiers Records in Europe. The record was produced and co-written by Richie Kotzen and features guest performances by Steve Lukather, Ted Nugent, Doug Aldrich, Tommy Aldridge, Brian Tichy, Marco Rentería of Jaguares, and others.

Mendoza has also played for the band Soul SirkUS and with many other artists from different musical backgrounds including: Bill Ward of Black Sabbath, Right Said Fred, Robert Williams, Roch Voisine, Dolores O'Riordan, Tim "Ripper" Owens, and Tommy Shaw.

When not touring, Mendoza has played with his band Mendoza Heredia Neto, featuring drummer Joey Heredia and keyboard player Renato Neto, on Tuesday nights at La Ve Lee Jazz Club in Studio City. The band has recorded a live CD, Live in L.A.

Personal life[link]

Mendoza spent his formative years living with his grandmother in Tijuana, Mexico. He now lives in Huntington Beach, California and has five children: Marco Rentería, who is the bass guitarist in the award winning Mexican band Jaguares and who played on Mendoza's solo album Live for Tomorrow; Aaron, Eva, Faith and Max. He married his current wife Leah on December 2, 2001.

Mendoza is a well-known supporter of gun rights. He enjoys hunting, fishing, trapping, and the general outdoors. Mendoza is commonly known to hunt with fellow musician and frequent collaborator Ted Nugent.^{[citation needed]}

Discography[link]

Solo albums[link]

• Live For Tomorrow (2007)
• Casa Mendoza (2010)

Other collaborations[link]

• 1990 Ward One: Along the Way (Bill Ward)
• 1993 Nothin' but Trouble (Blue Murder)
• 1994 Screaming Blue Murder (Blue Murder)
• 1995 Real World (Tin Drum)
• 1995 Out of My Tree (John Sykes)
• 1996 Feels Good (Michael Ruff)
• 1996 Smashing! (Right Said Fred)
• 1996 Kissing Rain (Roch Voisine)
• 1997 Loveland (John Sykes)
• 1997 Sugar Cane (Rafael Aragon)
• 1997 20th Century (John Sykes)
• 1998 Date with the Devil's Daughter (Robert Williams)
• 1998 7 Deadly Zens (Tommy Shaw)
• 1998 Live in L.A. (Mendoza Heredia Neto)
• 2000 One Night Only (Thin Lizzy)
• 2000 Into the Light (David Coverdale)
• 2000 Nuclear Cowboy (John Sykes)
• 2001 Full Bluntal Nugity (Ted Nugent)
• 2002 Craveman (Ted Nugent)
• 2004 Mythology (Derek Sherinian)
• 2004 Bad Boy Live! (John Sykes)
• 2005 World Play (Soul SirkUS)
• 2006 Live... In the Still of the Night (Whitesnake)
• 2007 Are You Listening? (Dolores O'Riordan)
• 2009 Play My Game (Tim "Ripper" Owens)
• 2009 No Baggage (Dolores O'Riordan)
• 2009 Smoke and Mirrors (Lynch Mob)

Tribute albums[link]

• 1999 Little Guitars: A Tribute to Van Halen
• 2000 Metallic Assault: A Tribute to Metallica
• 2001 Stone Cold Queen: A Tribute
• 2002 Pigs and Pyramids: An All Star Lineup Performing the Songs of Pink Floyd
• 2002 One Way Street: A Tribute to Aerosmith

References[link]

External links[link]

• The Official Marco Mendoza Website
• BBC Marco Mendoza site
• MARCO MENDOZA TALKS ABOUT THE “NEW” THIN LIZZY

Dayana Mendoza

Beauty pageant titleholder
Born	Dayana Sabrina Mendoza Moncada (1986-06-01) June 1, 1986 (age 26) Caracas, Venezuela
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Measurements	33.5-23-35[1]
Hair color	Brown[1]
Eye color	Green[1]
Major competition(s)	Miss Universe 2008 (Winner) Elite Model Look International 2001 (Finalist)[2] Miss Venezuela 2007 (Winner)

Dayana Sabrina Mendoza Moncada (born June 1, 1986 in Caracas, Venezuela)^[3] is a model and beauty pageant titleholder who won the titles of Miss Venezuela 2007^[4] and Miss Universe 2008.^[5][6][7][8]

Biography[link]

Miss Venezuela and Miss Universe[link]