Rebecca Gonzales

Rebecca was born to Vicente Gonzales and Trinidad Curiel in San Jose, California. Growing up, Rebecca started learning how to play the violin at a very young age. After many years playing, Rebecca became a very good violinist and it earned her a chance to tour Europe as a First chair violinist along side a highly decorated orchestra for an entire month.

After high school, she attended San Jose State University for four years studying music. From there she started working locally as a Mariachi musician. After her brief working experience, she relocated to Los Angeles, California to further her studies, Mariachi career, and connections.

Success started right away for her where she played at the legendary La Fonda Restaurant. She played for several high profiled show groups and played at large venues such as the Hollywood Bowl, Santa Barbara Bowl, Ford Anson Amphitheater, the Greek Theatre, Hollywood Pantages Theatre, etc.
If she wasn’t working on a cruise line or the famous Epcot Center, Rebecca had time to produce her first Latin album.

After spending more than 50 years as a career Mariachi musician, she would leave a legacy so rich and exemplary that her accomplishments would be known worldwide.

Rebecca received special recognitions as a “Pioneering Female” in Mariachi music spanning from Arizona, California, New Mexico to the Smithsonian of Washington DC. She achieved the ultimate recognition as a Hall of Fame Inductee in 2023, an honor that would solidify her as a Pioneer and the first female Mariachi in history to perform as a member with an all male high profile show group. She had created this legacy for all new aspiring female Mariachis’ and the great affect it would surely have for many generations to come.

Rebecca also worked as a violin teacher teaching at a music school and for the local school district. She taught the violin for over 28 years to all age groups but mostly children. She enjoyed teaching and sharing her knowledge to these children and watching them from the beginning of their violin journeys. She enjoyed teaching all her students equally, giving them the gift of the violin, using special techniques that would convince the child that the violin is a toy and not some complex instrument. Some of her students have gone off to college on violin scholarships or have become teachers themselves.

Rebecca and James Ng, her husband and partner in life, have been together for 30 years. Rebecca loved and appreciated James, her rock. His personality perfectly complimented her. They lived happily in Rancho Palos Verdes for 22 years.

Rebecca will be greatly missed by her husband James, her sister Rose, her niece Julia, cousins, nephews, all of her extended family, friends, co-workers, and all her fans of her music. She was undoubtedly one in a million.

Rebecca had the biggest heart and positive outlook on life. She was fearless and independent, yet sensitive and incredibly compassionate. She loved the outdoors, gardening, her cats, dining out, and being a teacher... She was strong willed and stubborn which along with her strength undoubtedly helped her deal with life’s challenges. Rebecca suffered chronic medical issues including a stroke. On November 19, 2024, Rebecca was surrounded by her family as she passed away due to health complications.

Rebecca was a strong fighter, but she is now playing the violin on a journey to shores we cannot see. We know that she is free from pain and now Heaven’s music just got a whole lot sweeter.