Introduction Celia Cruz, a Cuban-born artist, is a legendary figure in the world of Latin and salsa musical genres. Known as the Queen of Salsa, she is an icon of the genre and representation of Cuban music in the late 20th century. Cruz was known for her vocal talents, unique fashion, as well as improvisation, and presence on stage which perpetuated the longevity of her 50-year career. Cruz was a critical drive towards the popularization of Cuban music, salsa, and Latin jazz in pop culture and mass media. This paper will examine the life and achievements of Celia Cruz in her numerous contributions to the culture and the music industry. Biography Childhood and youth Celia Cruz was born on October 21, 1925, in Havana Cuba to a family of four children. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Celia began singing at an early age, and eventually participated in school and community musical productions. During school, she would sing at cabarets. Initially, Cruz wanted to become a teacher at the encouragement of her father but eventually transitioned to a singing career. As a young woman, Cruz begins gaining prominence in the Cuban musical industry by entering and winning several amateur singing contests on major radio stations. Shortly after she began performing regularly on the CMQ radio station in Havana as a live vocalist (Fernandez 142-143). Musical Education Cruz had practically no formal musical education. After giving up on being a teacher, Cruz enrolled at the Havana National Conservatory of Music to study music theory and singing. She eventually left to pursue a full-time music career at the encouragement of her professor rather than attempting to complete the academic track (Cartlidge). It is not known if she completed her education or received other musical training. Adult life and career In the 1940s, Cruz continued to work on radio stations as well as touring Cuba with the station’s band, often working with a pianist and also a prominent musician in the future, Damaso Perez Prado. In 1948, she began minor international tours as part of a musical group of singers and dancers Las Mulatas de Fuego (Fernandez 145). In 1950, Cruz achieved her breakthrough by becoming part of a high-profile Latin music band Sonora Matancera . It is in the band where she met her future husband and continued performing with them for 15 years and recording 188 songs. After the Cuban Revolution, in 1960, Sonora Matancera was banned by Castro from returning to Cuba due to the band’s international touring, including in the U.S. During this ban, Cruz received news of the illness and eventual death of both her parents, unable to return to the country to say goodbye. After years of international touring, Cruz left Sonora Matancera with her husband and began a solo career (Cartlidge). In 1966, Cruz began collaborating with a renowned American producer Tito Puente, recording some of her signature songs such as “Bemba colorá” and recording four albums. By 1974, a leading label in the salsa genre Fania records signed Cruz and she joined a salsa group consisting of major superstars called the Fania All-Stars. Throughout the 1970s Cruz achieved major commercial musical success with Fania, touri