[1] In 1939, Mendez joined the MGM orchestra where he played on several movie soundtracks and performed regular live concerts.

[4] Perhaps his most significant if not famous single recording, "Moto Perpetuo", was written in the nineteenth century by Niccolò Paganini for violin and features Mendez double-tonguing continuously for over 4 minutes while circular breathing to give the illusion that he is not taking a natural breath while playing.

[4] By the late 1950s, Méndez had been suffering from serious asthma-related problems which caused increasing difficulty at his level of performance.

[4][1] Arizona State University's music building houses the 1,400 sq ft (130 m2) Rafael Méndez Library which was dedicated and opened on June 11, 1993.

[7] In 2006, the Los Angeles Opera paid tribute to Rafael Mendez by performing a work based on his life.