Ivan Mendoza was born in the port of Callao in Lima Perú, where he spends his childhood and young adult years. One of two boys. Young Ivan used to hear his father play the guitar and sing around the house. This was his earliest bond with a guitar.

His love affair with music began at the age of six when he learned his first notes on the guitar and showed an immediate aptitude for the instrument. Ivan taught himself to play the guitar with undaunted determination using a hand full of records as his teacher, practicing for as many as eight hours a day. Exposed to the rock-n-roll of the 60’s, Ivan was then inspired by the great musicians of that era.

By the time he was ten, Ivan performed several times in school events. During his youth he participated in numerous musical shows in surrounding cities. This helped develop his talent and prepared him for what would become his professional career. Ivan studied music at Sebastian Bach Institute in his hometown of Lima.

As the years passed, in 1985 Ivan moved from Lima to Paterson, New Jersey where he began playing with big bands such as Charlie Lopez and Orchestra. He has performed in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Long Island, New York, Stamford, Connecticut and Philadelphia PA. Ivan has also played in North and South Carolina. In his varied career Ivan has played on cruise ships, parades, fairs, festivals and conventions. In 1992 Ivan entertained the inmates at the Bronx County Jail.

When he moved to Florida in 1997 looking for a change and find a new audience quickly he started playing for American Bands as well as Latin Bands in Tampa, Orlando and Miami. A few years ago Ivan challenged himself to add his melodic voice to his amazing guitar skills. Since then he has performed at the Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs, in restaurants, and private parties. With the release of his new CD Love Songs…From My guitar to you, he will be even more in demand !

Being a guitar virtuoso for all these years, he still learns from the musicians he has admired. They include Andres Segovia, Jose Feliciano and Carlos Santana. All are great legends that always inspire him to continue to explore his guitar ” … a true artist “, demonstrating the breadth of his talent and diversity of his work.