Lola Montes was a Spanish singer whose real name was Mercedes Fernández. She began in the artistic world as a dancer at the Teatro Real in Madrid. Later, she performed as a singer in different Zarzuela performances and still later, she was an interpreter of cuplés. On July 20, 1921, she premiered the cuplé El novio de la muerte at the Teatro Vital in Málaga, with lyrics by Fidel Prado Duque and music by Juan Costa Casals, obtaining enormous success. Shortly after, she performed it in Melilla and the song, after being adapted, became the official hymn of the Spanish Legion.