Luis Arcaráz was the premier Mexican orchestra leader of the postwar era, appealing to an enormous fan base on both sides of the border with a repertoire that boasted American and Latin pop favorites. Born Luis Arcaráz Torrás in Mexico City on December 5, 1910, he first pursued a career in bullfighting, but eventually his mother convinced him to study music and engineering. He continued his education in Spain before returning to Mexico City to accept a radio job with station XEW, singing and playing piano to the tune of 36 cents an hour. But the exposure nevertheless made Arca...