EDWARD “PIOLIN” SOTELO

Born in Jalisco, Mexico in 1972, Eddie “Piolín” Sotelo was 16 when he crossed the border and came to the United States. In 2003, he became the host of Piolin Por La Manana, a morning show at KSCA-FM/Los Angeles that was syndicated to over 50 stations nationwide.

During its 10-year run, Piolín Por La Manana (translated: Tweety Bird in the Morning) enjoyed enormous success locally and nationally, thanks to a combination of uninhibited character humor, prank phone calls, audienceparticipation (including “Piolínbomba,” where listeners were invited to call in with their own jokes), and political discussion, particularly concerning the topic of immigration reform. These discussions included long-time listenersand political figures and inspired Sotelo to speak on the air about his own experiences as an illegal immigrant—who became an American citizen in a highly publicized 2008 ceremony. In the process, he became one of the top-rated radio personalities in America and was hailed by one publication as “the new voice of immigrant rights.” In 2013, Sotelo joined SiriusXM satellite radio to launch Piolín Radio, a Spanish-language entertainment channel.

Sotelo has also appeared in the movies The Muppets, Marmaduke, and Beverly Hills Chihuahua

.Eddie “Piolín” Sotelo was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2013.