Francisco Gabilondo Soler (Cri-Cri)

Hello! My name is Francisco Gabilondo Soler, but you might know me by my nickname, Cri-Cri, the little singing cricket. My story begins in a beautiful town called Orizaba, in Veracruz, Mexico, where I was born on October 6th, 1907. As a boy, I wasn't very interested in school; I found my real education inside the pages of books. My grandmother's library was my favorite place in the world. I read fantastic stories by authors like Jules Verne and Hans Christian Andersen, which filled my head with adventure and wonder. I also loved looking up at the night sky, and I taught myself all about the stars and planets, a passion that would stay with me my whole life.

When I grew up, I knew I wanted to create my own worlds, just like the ones I had read about. I taught myself to play the piano and began writing songs. In my twenties, I moved to Mexico City to chase my dream. On October 15th, 1934, I was given a chance to have my own radio show on the famous station XEW. At first, it was just 15 minutes of me playing my music. One day, the station manager told me that my songs were interesting, but that I needed a character to tie them all together. He suggested a cricket, and just like that, 'Cri-Cri, El Grillito Cantor' (The Little Singing Cricket) was born! I became the voice of this little cricket, telling stories and singing songs to children all over Mexico.

My radio show became a magical place where anything could happen. I created a whole universe of characters, each with their own personality and song. There was 'El Ratón Vaquero' (The Cowboy Mouse), who spoke English with a funny accent; 'La Patita' (The Little Duck), who wanted to buy a ball for her ducklings; and 'El Ropero' (The Wardrobe), where old forgotten toys lived. I wrote over 260 songs, and each one was a little story. I mixed fantasy with things I learned from my books, including my love for astronomy. My goal was not just to entertain, but to spark curiosity and imagination in every child who listened.

My show was on the air for 27 years, ending in 1961. It became a tradition for families to gather around the radio to listen to my stories. My fame grew so much that even Walt Disney in the United States heard about me. He invited me to work with him on his movies, and a few of my songs were made into short cartoons. However, I decided not to sell him my characters because I wanted to protect the world I had created. Besides music, I never gave up my passion for science. In 1951, I officially became a member of the Mexican Astronomical Society, and I even had an observatory built at my home. I believed that art and science were two wonderful ways to explore the universe.

Even after my radio show ended, my songs continued to be played and loved. I lived to be 83 years old, and my life was filled with music, stories, and starry nights. Today, generations of children in Mexico and across Latin America have grown up listening to Cri-Cri. My songs are passed down from grandparents to parents to children, keeping the magic alive. I am so happy that my little cricket and all his friends continue to bring joy and inspire new dreamers to look at the world, and the stars, with a sense of wonder.