Ramiro De La Cruz

Tejano guitarist and singer Ramiro de la Cruz (or Ramiro "Swoball" de la Cruz) was born on April 14, 1943 and was raised in El Barrio La Paloma of south McAllen, Texas. He was given the nickname "Snowball" by a fellow musician because of his albinism. He was also known as "El Guero Polvos". He graduated from McAllen High School and attended Pan American University. Snowball is revered by the Tejano music community for his trendsetting guitar playing and musical arrangements. Snowball was given his first guitar at the age of 17 by his grandmother. Snowball was part of many successful Tejano music bands, the first being a local band known as the Personalities. Then Snowball joined Los Fabulosos 4 and later graduated to Los Unicos. He also established Snowball & Company with famed singer Laura Canales. More recently he was singing as a soloist and as a part of a Christian musical group known as Los Mensajeros de Cristo with whom he recorded his final album. In 2002 Ramiro "Snowball" de la Cruz along with his bandmates from "Los Fabulosos 4" and "Los Unicos" were inducted into the Tejano Roots Hall of Fame. He was a true icon and a dedicated champion for Tejano music and "La Onda Chicana" ("The Chicano Wave").