Manuel Esperon

Manuel Esperón was a prolific and award-winning Mexican composer and songwriter who wrote over 900 songs and 500 soundtracks for Mexican cinema. He collaborated with famous Mexican authors such as Ernesto Cortazar and Agustin Lara, and his songs were performed by popular singers such as Pedro Infante, Los Panchos, and Jorge Negrete. Some of his songs, such as "¡Ay, Jalisco, no te rajes!", "Cocula", and "Yo soy mexicano", have become classics of Latin music. He also wrote songs for Disney's The Three Caballeros (1945), and integrated mariachi music into many of his compositions. He received the National Prize of Arts and Sciences of Mexico in 1989, and a tribute at the Palace of Fine Arts in 2001. He was the honorary president for life of the Society of Authors and Composers of Mexico until his death in 2011. He is considered one of the most influential and representative composers of Mexican culture.