Rafael Muñoz (musician)

{{Short description|Puerto Rican musician}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Rafael Muñoz

| image =

| imagesize =

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| birth_place = Quebradillas, Puerto Rico

| birth_date = September 5, 1900

| death_place = Santurce, Puerto Rico

| death_date = September 2, 1961

| other_names =

| occupation = musician

}}

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.{{cite web|last1=Díaz Ayala|first1=Cristóbal|title=Orquesta Rafael Muñoz|url=http://latinpop.fiu.edu/SECCION04Mpt2.pdf|website=Encyclopedic Discography of Cuban Music 1925–1960|publisher=Florida International University Libraries|accessdate=15 October 2019|date=3 May 2018}} 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{{cite book |last1=López Ortiz |first1=Miguel |title=¡Arriba Santurce, Corazón Rumbero De Puerto Rico! Tierra De Grandes Percusionistas |date=2014 |publisher=Palibrio |isbn=9781463383749 |page=518 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oKR7BAAAQBAJ&pg=PT518 |language=en}} and Irma Morillo.{{cite book |last1=Ruiz |first1=Vicki L. |last2=Korrol |first2=Virginia Sánchez |title=Latinas in the United States, set: A Historical Encyclopedia |date=2006 |publisher=Indiana University Press |isbn=9780253111692 |page=496 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_62IjQ-XQScC&pg=PA496 |language=en}}