Bola de Nieve

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For the historical building in Rosario, Argentina, see La Bola de Nieve.

Bola de Nieve is the stagename for Ignacio Jacinto Villa (September 11, 1911, Guanabacoa, Havana City, Cuba – October 2, 1971, Mexico City, Mexico), a Cuban singer, pianist and songwriter. His nickname means "snowball."[1]

Raised in Cuba, Villa studied at the Mateu Conservatoire of Havana. He started his artistic life as Rita Montaner's pianist in 1933.[2] After Montaner returned to Cuba, Villa remained in Mexico and developed an original performance style as a pianist and singer. His friends included Andres Segovia and Pablo Neruda. He was openly gay despite discrimination at the time.[2]

He sang mostly in Spanish, but also in English, Catalan, French, Italian and Portuguese. He was the subject of a 2003 documentary which includes interviews with fellow musicians, friends, relatives, and experts.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Review of documentary film Bola de Nieve by Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix, October 24, 2003
  2. ^ a b Moved by spirits: Cuba's musical legends still alive in today's music by Jordan Levin, McClatchy Newspapers, April 19 2007

[edit] External links

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