Bola de Nieve

Bola de Nieve (literally Snowball) (11 September 1911 – 2 October 1971), born Ignacio Jacinto Villa Fernández, was a Cuban singer-pianist and songwriter. His name originates from his round, black face. Villa Fernández was born in Guanabacoa, and studied at the Mateu Conservatoire of Havana. He worked as a chauffeur and played piano for silent films until his friend Rita Montaner took him on as an accompanist in the early 1930s. After Montaner returned to Cuba, Villa Fernández remained in Mexico and developed an original performance style as a pianist and singer. He was an elite rather than a popular figure, a sophisticated cabaret stylist known for ironic patter, subtle musical interpretation, with a repertoire that included songs in French, English, Catalan, Portuguese, and Italian. He toured widely in Europe and the Americas, and his friends included Andrés Segovia and Pablo Neruda. He was black and gay, and was self-confident in his personality, and accepted for what he was: a memorable talent. He died in Mexico City during a musical visit. He was the subject of a 2003 documentary which included interviews with fellow musicians, friends, relatives, and experts.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 11, 1911 (Havana Province), Died October 2, 1971 (Mexico City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1934 - 1956

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, piano

Notes: Ignacio Jacinto Villa Fernández performs under nickname, Bola de Nieve.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BS-027925	10-in.	10/17/1938	Si me pudieras querer	Ramiro Gómez ; Orquesta "La Conga" ; Oscar de la Rosa	Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo	composer
Victor	BAVE-039550	10-in.	before 12/6/1940	Tu me has de querer	Pedro Vargas	Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	instrumentalist, piano, composer
Victor	MBS-094489	10-in.	before 4/6/1954	No dejes que te olvide	Gustavo Prado ; Enrique Quezada ; Saulo Sedano ; Los Tres Diamantes	Male vocal and instrumental trio	composer
Victor	CU-288	10-in.	before 4/18/1940	Arroyito de mi casa	Esther Borja ; Orquesta Alfredo Brito	Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo	composer
Victor	CU-493	10-in.	before 6/27/1940	Tú me has de querer	Conjunto Fernando Mulens ; Dúo Primavera	Female vocal duet, with instrumental ensemble	composer
Victor	CU-942	10-in.	before 7/5/1956	Si me pudieras querer	Raffi Muñoz ; Orquesta Rafael Somavilla	Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	composer
Columbia	CO21328	10-in.	6/29/1937	Si me pudieras querer	Cuarteto Caney	Vocal and instrumental ensemble	composer
Brunswick	SA2259	10-in.	10/16/1934	Te vengo a decir adiós : Canción	Hermanas Águila‏	Female vocal duet, with orchestra	composer

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Bola de Nieve," accessed November 5, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/104295.

Bola de Nieve. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 5, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/104295.

"Bola de Nieve." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 5 November 2024.