Francisco Gabilondo Soler

Francisco Gabilondo Soler "The Singing Cricket", died on December 14, 1990, of cardiac disease, at the age of 83 years.

In 1944 Gabilondo Soler created his own radio show on XEW where he played his songs for people of all ages.

Francisco Gabilondo Soler was able to mix a variety of styles in his songs, including the fox trot, tango (such as in the song "Che Araña"), U.S. country music ("El Raton Vaquero") and Mexican ranchera music, always employing remarkably imaginative orchestration and rhythm.

Cri-Cri's songs, of which he wrote both the music and the lyrics, became fables of sorts that had both an educational and an entertainment value.

Some of his songs became so popular over the decades that a few of his characters have become forever engrained in Mexican popular culture, such as "La Muñeca Fea" ("The Ugly Doll"), a song that tells the story of an old broken doll who is sadly forgotten in an attic and is befriended by a mouse.

More than songs, Francisco Gabilondo Soler created stories with music, making children all over the world dream with them.

[4] Some songs performed by Cri-Crí: In 2007, for the centennial celebration of his birth, the dance company at the Palacio de Bellas Artes prepared a show based on his work.

The choreography uses his most representative songs, and the scenes are filled with images of the characters from songs such as "El ratón vaquero" (The cowboy mouse), "Los mosquitos trompeteros" (The trumpeter mosquitoes) and "La muñeca fea" (The ugly doll).