Celia Cruz

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Cruz and the second or maternal family name is Alfonso.

Celia Cruz
Cruz in 1957
Cruz in 1957
Background information
Birth nameCelia Caridad Cruz Alfonso
Born(1925-10-21)21 October 1925
Havana, Republic of Cuba
Died16 July 2003(2003-07-16) (aged 77)
Fort Lee, New Jersey, U.S.
Resting placeThe Bronx, New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actress
Instrument
  • Vocals
Years active1948–2003
Labels
Formerly ofSonora Matancera
Spouse
  • ​
    (m. 1962)​

Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso[a] (21 October 1925 – 16 July 2003), known as Celia Cruz, was a Cuban singer and one of the most popular Latin artists of the 20th century. Cruz rose to fame in Cuba during the 1950s as a singer of guarachas, earning the nickname "La Guarachera de Cuba". In the following decades, she became known internationally as the "Queen of Salsa" due to her contributions to Latin music.[4][5][6] She had sold over 10 million records, making her one of the best-selling Latin music artists.[7]

She began her career in her home country Cuba, earning recognition as a vocalist of the popular musical group Sonora Matancera, a musical association that lasted 15 years (1950–1965). Cruz mastered a wide variety of Afro-Cuban music styles including guaracha, rumba, afro, son and bolero, recording numerous singles in these styles for Seeco Records. In 1960, after the Cuban Revolution caused the nationalization of the music industry, Cruz left her native country, becoming one of the symbols and spokespersons of the Cuban community in exile.[8] Cruz continued her career, first in Mexico, and then in the United States, the country that she took as her definitive residence. In the 1960s, she collaborated with Tito Puente, recording her signature tune "Bemba colorá". In the 1970s, she signed for Fania Records and became strongly associated with the salsa genre, releasing hits such as "Quimbara". She often appeared live with Fania All-Stars and collaborated with Johnny Pacheco and Willie Colón. During the last years of her career, Cruz continued to release successful songs such as "La vida es un carnaval" and "La negra tiene tumbao".[9]

Her musical legacy is made up of a total of 37 studio albums, as well as numerous live albums and collaborations. Throughout her career, she was awarded numerous prizes and distinctions, including two Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Awards. In addition to her prolific career in music, Cruz also made several appearances as an actress in movies and telenovelas. Her catchphrase "¡Azúcar!" ("Sugar!") has become one of the most recognizable symbols of salsa music.

  1. ^ Cruz, Celia; Reymundo, Ana Cristina (5 July 2005). Celia: My Life. Harper Collins. p. 11. ISBN 978-0-06-072555-6.
  2. ^ a b c Marquetti, Rosa (2022). "Conozca el verdadero nombre de Celia Cruz". Diario Las Américas (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Bio5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Pareles, Jon (14 December 1992). "Review/Pop; The Queen of Latin Music Takes It From the Top". Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  5. ^ "Celia Cruz's Shoes". National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  6. ^ "The Life and Music of Celia Cruz". Smithsonian Institution. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  7. ^ Arias-Polo, Arturo (1 December 2017). "Albacea de Celia Cruz decide reivindicar la historia de la Guarachera de Cuba en un musical" (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Cuando Fidel Castro prohibió la música de Celia Cruz". KienyKe.com. 6 October 2015. Archived from the original on 2 June 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  9. ^ "Diez canciones que inmortalizaron a Celia Cruz, la 'reina de la salsa'". El Heraldo. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.


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