Crescenciano Abel Exaltación de la Cruz José Francisco de Jesús Mojica Montenegro y Chavarín, known professionally as José Mojica, was born on September 14, 1895, in San Gabriel, Jalisco, Mexico. He performed as a tenor and film actor before entering religious life as a Franciscan friar. Mojica's musical journey started with private voice lessons at the National Conservatory of Music of Mexico. His operatic debut came on October 5, 1916, at the Teatro Arbeu, playing the role of Count Almaviva in Rossini’s The Barber of Seville. In 1924, Mojica performed roles such as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, and Rodolfo in La Bohème at the San Francisco Opera. His versatility is reflected in his extensive discography, which includes recordings for Edison and the Victor Talking Machine Company. Notable songs include "Júrame" (1927), composed by María Grever, and "Solamente una vez" (1941). Mojica left his music and film career in 1943 to become a priest. He passed away of heart failure on September 20, 1974, in Lima, Peru.
