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.