Federico Piñero Sopeira

Born in Santa Clara. Famous for his creation of the "gallego," paired with the equally celebrated "negrito" Alberto Garrido, son. Both worked together for the first time at the Martí theater (1932), in the mythical Cuban zarzuela company Suárez-Rodríguez.

There, Piñero participated in the premieres of Soledad (Prats), Cecilia Valdés (Roig) and Rosa la China (Lecuona), bringing to life the characters Paciente Fungueiro, Don Melitón and Robustiano, respectively.

He also premiered La Habana que vuelve, El Mayoral and María Belén Chacón, by Rodrigo Prats; Clarín, La hija del sol and La Habana de noche, by Gonzalo Roig, among many other titles.

In the 1940s his popularity grew by headlining the radio program "Chicharito y Sopeira," always in the company of Garrido and Candita Quintana. During those years, the inseparable vernacular trio also carried out successful theatrical campaigns at the Martí, as well as several Cuban films.

Piñero, for his part, also acted alone for Mexican cinema, participating in the film versions of the lyrical works La hija del regimiento (1944) and Marina (1945).

The popular gallego of the vernacular stage died in Miami, United States, on November 2, 1961.