Celia Cruz

Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso(21 October 1925 – 16 July 2003), known asCelia Cruz, was a Cuban singer and one of the most popularLatin artistsof the 20th century. Cruz rose to fame inCubaduring the 1950s as a singer ofguarachas, 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.She had sold over 10 million records, making her one of thebest-selling Latin music artists.
The artist began her career in her home countryCuba, earning recognition as a vocalist of the popular musical groupSonora Matancera, a musical association that lasted 15 years (1950–1965). Cruz mastered a wide variety ofAfro-Cuban musicstyles includingguaracha,rumba,afro,sonandbolero, recording numerous singles in these styles for Seeco Records. In 1960, after theCuban Revolutioncaused the nationalization of the music industry, Cruz left her native country, becoming one of the symbols and spokespersons of the Cuban community in exile.Cruz continued her career, first inMexico, and then in theUnited States, the country that she took as her definitive residence. In the 1960s, she collaborated withTito Puente, recording her signature tune "Bemba colorá". In the 1970s, she signed forFania Recordsand became strongly associated with thesalsagenre, releasing hits such as "Quimbara". She often appeared live withFania All-Starsand collaborated withJohnny PachecoandWillie 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".
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 twoGrammy Awardsand threeLatin Grammy Awards. In addition to her prolific career in music, Cruz also made several appearances as an actress in movies andtelenovelas. Her catchphrase "¡Azúcar!" ("Sugar!") has become one of the most recognizable symbols of salsa music.
Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso was born on 21 October 1925, at 47 Serrano Street in the Santos Suárez neighborhood ofHavana, Cuba.Her father, Simón Cruz, was a railway stoker, and her mother, Catalina Alfonso Ramos, a housewife who took care of an extended family.Celia was one of the eldest among fourteen children living in the house, including cousins and her three siblings, Dolores, Gladys, and Bárbaro,and she used to sing cradle songs to put them to sleep.According to her mother, she began singing as a child at 9 or 10 months of age, often in the middle of the night.She also sang in school during the Fridays'actos cívicosand in her neighborhood ensemble, Botón de oro.
While growing up in Cuba's diverse 1930s musical climate, Cruz listened to many musicians who influenced her adult career, including Fernando Collazo,Abelardo Barroso, Pablo Quevedo,Antonio ArcañoandArsenio Rodríguez.Despite her father's opposition and the fact that she wasCatholic, as a child Cruz learnedSanteríasongs from her neighbor who practiced Santería.Cruz also studied the words toYorubasongs with colleagueMerceditas Valdés(anakpwon, a Santería singer) from Cuba and later made various recordings of this religious genre, even singing backup for other akpwons likeCandita Batista.
As a teenager, her aunt took her and her cousin tocabaretsto sing, but her father encouraged her to attend school in the hope she would become a teacher. After high school, she attended the Normal School for Teachers in Havana with the intent of becoming a literature teacher.At the time being a singer was not viewed as an entirely respectable career. However, one of her teachers told her that, as an entertainer, she could earn in one day what most Cuban teachers earned in a month. From 1947, Cruz studied music theory, voice, and piano at Havana's National Conservatory of Music.
One day, her cousin took her to Havana's radio stationRadio García-Serra, where she became a contestant in the "Hora del té" amateur radio program. It was her first time using a microphone and she sang thetango"Nostalgia" (as a tribute toPaulina Álvarez), winning a cake as the first prize for her performance.On other occasions she won silver chains, as well as opportunities to participate in more contests.She also sang in other amateur radio programs such asLa suprema corte del arte, broadcast byCMQ, always winning first prize. The only exception was when she competed against Vilma Valle, having to split their earnings: 25 dollars each.
In 2004, theMiami Heraldrevealed from partially declassified US State Department papers that Cruz had been linked to Cuba's pre-Revolution communist party, thePopular Socialist Party(PSP), as early as the 1940s.The article, promoted as an "exclusive", was written by Miami Herald journalistCarol Rosenbergfrom Freedom of Information Act requests. It made several revelations. Among them, the US Embassy in Havana denied Cruz a US visa in 1952 and 1955 because of suspected communist affiliations. The article also states that Cruz had joined the youth wing of the PSP at age 20 and had used a concert to arrange a secret meeting with communists in South America on behalf of its then general secretary,Blas Roca Calderío, who has also founded the party in 1925. Cruz had also signed a public letter in support of one of the Party's front groups, the Pro-Peace Congress. The article states that Cruz's surviving husband,Pedro Knight, was asked about this, and is quoted he knew nothing about it. "She never told me about that. She never talked about politics," the article quotes Knight.
Isolina Carrillowas one of the first people to recognize Cruz's ability to sing Afro-Cuban music and asked her to join her Conjunto Siboney, whereOlga Guillotalso sang.She later joined Orquesta de Ernesto Duarte, Gloria Matancera, Sonora Caracas and Orquesta Anacaona. From 1947, she started to sing in Havana's most popular cabarets:Tropicana, Sans Souci, Bamboo, Topeka, etc.In 1948, RodericoRodneyNeyra founded the group of dancers and singers Las Mulatas de Fuego (The Fiery Mulattas).Cruz was hired with this group as a singer, reaching great success and making presentations in Mexico andVenezuela, where she made her first recordings. Shortly thereafter, Cruz began to sing on musical programs at Radio Cadena Suaritos, along with a group that performedSanteríamusic under the direction ofObdulio Morales. With this group, known as Coro Yoruba y Tambores Batá, she made several recordings that were later released byPanart.
Cruz's big break came in 1950 when Myrta Silva, the singer with Cuba'sSonora Matancera, returned to her nativePuerto Rico. Since they were in need of a new singer, the band decided to give the young Celia Cruz a chance. She auditioned in June, and at the end of July she was asked to join as lead singer,and thus became the group's first black frontwoman.In her first rehearsal with Sonora Matancera, Cruz met her future husbandPedro Knight, who was the band's second trumpeter.
Cruz debuted with the group on 3 August 1950. Initially, Cruz was not received with enthusiasm by the public, but Rogelio Martínez had faith in her. On 15 December 1950, Cruz recorded her first songs with the group, which were a resounding success. Her "musical marriage" with the Sonora Matancera lasted fifteen years. In total Celia recorded 188 songs with the Matancera, including hits such as "Cao cao maní picao", "Mata siguaraya", "Burundanga" and "El yerbero moderno". She won her first gold record for "Burundanga", making her first trip to the United States in 1957 to receive the award and to perform atSt. Nicholas Arena, New York.During her 15 years withSonora Matancera, she appeared in cameos in some Mexican films such asRincón criollo(1950),Una gallega en La Habana(1955) andAmorcito corazón(1961), toured all over Latin America and became a regular at the Tropicana.
Cruz was touring in Mexico whenFidel Castroseized power at the conclusion of theCuban Revolution. She returned to Cuba to find her hometown of Havana in turmoil and mostly shut down.Cruz was publicly critical of Castro, a stance that she knew would endanger her career and possibly her freedom, since other critics of the regime were regularly arrested. She also needed money to pay for her ailing mother's medical expenses, and when she was offered a contract to perform for a few months at La Terraza Nightclub inMexico City, she accepted. Cruz left Cuba on 15 July 1960, not knowing that she would likely never return to her home country.
Just one week after arriving in Mexico, Cruz received the news of the death of her father, Simón Cruz. In 1961, Cruz and Sonora Matancera left Mexico for an engagement in the United States. During this period, Cruz began performing solo without the group, performing at a recital at theHollywood PalladiuminLos Angeles.
In 1962, before the refusal of the Cuban government to allow her to return to Cuba, Cruz acquired a house inFort Lee, New Jersey. Although she tried to return to Cuba to see her sick mother, who was struggling with terminal bladder cancer, the Cuban government denied her request to return.On 7 April 1962, she received the news of the death of her mother Catalina Alfonso. That same year, on 14 July, Cruz was married in civil ceremony with Pedro Knight after a romance of several years. Cruz and Sonora Matancera made their first tour outside of the Americas, visitingEuropeandJapan, where they performed withTito Puente. In 1965, Cruz would culminate a vertiginous fifteen years with the Sonora Matancera. Cruz began a solo career and her husband Pedro Knight decided to leave his position at Sonora Matancera to become her representative, arranger and personal director. During this time, Cruz became an American citizen.
In 1966, Cruz was contacted by Tito Puente to perform with his orchestra. Their first collaborative album,Son con guaguancófeatured a recording of José Claro Fumero's guaracha "Bemba colorá", which became one of Cruz's signature songs.Cruz and Puente went on to collaborate on another four albums together. She also recorded albums with other musical directors such as Memo Salamanca, Juan Bruno Tarraza and Lino Frías forTico Records. In 1974,Fania Records, the leadingsalsarecord label, acquired Tico and signed Cruz to the imprint Vaya Records, where she remained until 1992.
Cruz's association with theFania labelhad begun in 1973, when she recorded the lead vocals of "Gracia divina", a song byLarry Harlowwhich was part of his "Latin opera"Hommy. She then joined theFania All-Stars, a salsasupergroupfeaturing the most popular performers of the Fania roster. With them, Cruz first sang "Bemba colorá" and "Diosa del ritmo" inSan Juan, Puerto Ricoin 1973. She later travelled with the group toKinshasa,Zaire, in 1974 and returned to San Juan in 1975 for another concert. These live recordings were commercially released years later. Her performance in Zaire, as part ofThe Rumble in the Jungleevent, was included in the filmSoul Power.
Cruz recorded her first studio album for Fania in 1974 in collaboration withJohnny Pacheco, the label's founder and musical director. The album,Celia & Johnny, and its lead single, "Quimbara", were both a commercial success. In 1976, she participated in the documentary filmSalsaabout Latin culture, along with figures likeDolores del RíoandWillie Colón. The following year she recorded her first LP with Colón, a collaboration that would be repeated with great success in 1981 and 1987. When touring with Colón, Cruz wore a flamboyant costume, which included various colored wigs, tight sequined dresses, and very high heels. Her fashion style became so famous that one of them was acquired by the Smithsonian institution.In the late 1970s, she participated in anEastern Air Linescommercial in Puerto Rico, singing the catchy phrase¡Esto sí es volar!(This is to truly fly!). Cruz also used to sing the identifying spot for WQBA radio station in Miami, formerly known as "La Cubanísima": "I am the voice of Cuba, from this land, far away...I am liberty, I am WQBA, the most Cuban!" (Yo soy de Cuba, la voz, desde esta tierra lejana... ¡soy libertad, soy WQBA, Cubanísima!).
In 1982, Celia was reunited with the Sonora Matancera and recorded the albumFeliz Encuentro. That year, the singer received the first tribute of her career atMadison Square Gardenin New York. In 1987, Cruz performed a concert inSanta Cruz de Tenerife. That concert was recognized by the publisher of theGuinness Book of Recordsas the largest free-entry outdoor concert, with an audience of 250,000 people. In 1988, she participated in the feature filmSalsaalongsideRobby Draco Rosa. In 1990, Cruz won her firstGrammy Award(Best Tropical Latin Performance) for her albumRitmo en el corazón, recorded withRay Barretto. She was also invited to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Sonora Matancera inCentral Parkin New York. The decline of Fania's brand ofsalsa durain favor of the emergentsalsa románticagradually brought an end to Celia's musical association with the Fania All Stars. Their final reunions took place in Puerto Rico (1994) and Colombia (1995), both of which were released on CD.
In 1990, Cruz managed to return to Cuba. She was invited to make a presentation at theGuantanamo Bay Naval Base. When she came out of this presentation she took a few grams of Cuban soil in a bag; at her request, this bag would later be placed in her coffin when she died. In 1994, she received theNational Endowment for the Artsaward from the then PresidentBill Clinton, which is the highest recognition granted by the United States government to an artist.Having made musical presentations in Mexican and Cuban films, in 1992 Celia participated as an actress in the American filmMambo Kings, along withArmand AssanteandAntonio Banderas. A year later she made her debut as a television actress in the MexicantelenovelaValentina, along withVerónica Castrofor theTelevisanetwork. In 1995, Celia made a guest appearance in the American filmThe Perez Family, along withAlfred MolinaandAnjelica Huston. In 1997, she starred again for Televisa in the Mexican telenovelaEl alma no tiene color, a remake of the classic Mexican filmAngelitos negros. Cruz played the role of a black woman who gives birth to a white daughter. On 25 October 1997, the city ofSan Francisco,California, officially declared that date as "Celia Cruz Day".
In 1998, she released the albumMi vida es cantar, which featured one of her most successful songs,La vida es un carnaval. In 1999, she performed withLuciano Pavarottifor thePavarotti and Friendsconcert. In 2000, Cruz released a new album under the auspices ofSony Music,Celia Cruz and Friends: A Night of Salsa, where she recorded again with Tito Puente, who died shortly after. Thanks to this album, Cruz was awarded her firstLatin Grammy. In 2001, the albumSiempre viviréwon her a second Latin Grammy. In that same year, she performed withMarc Anthonyin a tribute toAretha FranklinforVH1. In 2002, Cruz released the album,La negra tiene tumbao, where she ventured into modern variants of Caribbean rhythms, influenced by rap and hip hop. For this record she won her third Latin Grammy and her second American Grammy.
On 16 July 2002, Cruz performed to a full house at the free outdoor performing arts festivalCentral Park SummerStagein New York City. During the performance she sang "Bemba colorá".  A live recording of this song was subsequently made available in 2005 on a commemorative CD honoring the festival's then 20-year history entitled, "Central Park SummerStage: Live from the Heart of the City". Cruz appeared on theDionne WarwickalbumsDionne Sings DionneandMy Friends & Mewith their Latin duet version of "(Do You Know The Way To) San José".
In August and September 2002, Cruz underwent surgery due tobreast cancer.In November that year, Cruz fell during a concert in Mexico. She was diagnosed withglioma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, and underwent surgery in December.Confident, Cruz said she did not shed one tear and that she was aiming to resume her artistic career.She finished recording her last album,Regalo del Alma. In February, she appeared in public again at the45th Annual Grammy Awardsto receive the award forBest Salsa Album.In March 2003, the US Hispanic networkTelemundopaid tribute to her. The event, titled¡Celia Cruz: Azúcar!, involved figures such asGloria Estefan,Marc Anthony,La India,Gloria GaynorandPatti LaBelleamong others.This was her last public appearance.
On the afternoon of 16 July 2003, Cruz died at her home inFort Lee, New Jersey, at the age of 77. At her express wish, her mortal remains were first transferred toMiamifor two days to receive the homage of her Cuban exile admirers atGesu Church, before a funeral Mass atSt. Patrick's Cathedraland burial in theWoodlawn CemeteryinThe Bronx, New York.An epilogue in her autobiography notes that, in accordance with her wishes, Cuban soil - which she had saved from a visit toGuantánamo Bay- was used in her entombment.
Cruz's legacy had been honored for years before her death, including a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame(1987), the asteroid name5212 Celiacruz(1989),theExcellence Awardsat the1990 Lo Nuestro Awards,andCelia Cruz Wayin Miami (1991). She was also recognized with a star on BoulevardAmador BendayáninCaracas, Venezuela, and a figure in theHollywood Wax Museum. Besides, Cruz received three Honoris Causa doctorates from three universities in the United States:Yale University,Florida International Universityand theUniversity of Miami.Cruz, along with fellow Afro-Cuban musicianCachao, were inducted into theBillboardLatin Music Hall of Famein 1994.She was also inducted into theInternational Latin Music Hall of Famein 1999.In the same year, she was presented with theASCAP Latin Heritage Awardbecoming the first recipient of the accolade.
Through a formidable work ethic, Cruz rose to the very top in her genre.In February 2004, her last album,Regalo del Alma, she won a posthumous award at thePremios Lo Nuestrofor best salsa release of the year. It was announced in December 2005 that a musical called¡Azúcar!would open inTenerifebefore touring the world. The name comes from Cruz's well-known catch phrase of "¡Azúcar!" (“Sugar!”).
In 2003, a music school was opened in the Bronx, named theCelia Cruz Bronx High School of Music. Pedro Knight visited this school before his death to meet the students and share stories about her life.
On June 4, 2004, the heavily Cuban-American community ofUnion City, New Jerseyheralded its annual Cuban Day Parade by dedicating its new Celia Cruz Park (also known as Celia Cruz Plaza), which features a sidewalk star in her honor, at 31st Street andBergenline Avenue, with Cruz's widower,Pedro Knight, present. There are four other similar dedications to Cruz around the world.Cruz's star has expanded into Union City's "Walk of Fame",as new marble stars are added each spring to honor Latin entertainment and media personalities, such asmerenguesinger Joseíto Mateo, salsa singerLa India, Cachao, CubantenorBeny Moré,Tito Puente, Spanish languagetelevision newsanchorRafael Pineda, salsa pioneerJohnny Pacheco,singer/bandleaderGilberto Santa Rosaand music promoterRalph Mercado.
On 18 May 2005, theNational Museum of American History, administered by theSmithsonian Institutionand located inWashington, D.C., opened"¡Azúcar!", an exhibit celebrating the life and music of Celia Cruz. The exhibit highlights important moments in Cruz's life and career through photographs, personal documents, costumes, videos, and music. Her biographyCelia: Mi vidawas also published in 2005, based on more than 500 hours of interviews with the Mexican journalist Ana Cristina Reymundo. The journalist and TV presenterCristina Saraleguiplanned to take the story of her life to the cinema and the American actressWhoopi Goldberg, admirer of the singer, expressed her interest in representing her, but the project was cancelled.From 26 September 2007 to 25 May 2008,Celia, a musical based on the life of Celia Cruz, played at theOff-BroadwayvenueNew World Stages. The show won four 2008 HOLA Awards from theHispanic Organization of Latin Actors.
On 16 March 2011, Celia Cruz was honored by theUnited States Postal Servicewith a commemorative postage stamp.The Cruz stamp was one of a group of five stamps honoring Latin music greats, also includingSelena,Tito Puente,Carmen Miranda, andCarlos Gardel. The Smithsonian'sNational Museum of American Historycollaborated with photographer Robert Weingarten to create an object-based portrait of Celia Cruz featuring artifacts in the museum. The portrait was unveiled on 3 October 2012.
On 21 October 2013, Google honored her with aGoogle Doodle.Jennifer Lopezhonored Cruz with her presentation at the41st American Music Awardsceremony.The singersYuri, La India,MalumaandAymée Nuvioladid the same at theLatin American Music Awards. Also in 2013, Cruz was inducted into the New Jersey Hall Fame.In October 2015,Telemundopremiered an 80-episode docu-drama based on Cruz's life,Celia.
In 2015, the television networksRCN Televisiónand Telemundo produced the TV seriesCeliabased on the life of Crus. Cruz was played by the actressesJeimy Osorioand Aymée Nuviola and counted on the voice of Patty Padilla.In 2019,Angélique Kidjoreleased a tribute album to Cruz, entitledCelia, including songs spanning all of Cruz's career reinvented with an Afrobeat feel. It featuresTony Allen (musician),Meshell Ndegeocelloand theGangbé Brass Band.
In 2018, a monument to Cruz was unveiled in the Cuban Heritage Park inHialeah, Florida.Also in 2018, the Celia Cruz Estate launched a brand inspired by Cruz which featured merchandise inspired and about Cruz.
In 2019,Chilean-American poetMarjorie Agosincreated achamber musictheatre performance titled "Las Magníficas" (The Magnificent Ones), based on the life of Celia Cruz and Chilean singer-songwriterVioleta Parra.
On 2 June 2021, New York City honored Celia Cruz by co-naming the intersection of Reservoir Avenue and East 195th Street in the Kingsbridge Heights section of The Bronx, near the high school that is the named in her honor, "Celia Cruz Way".Los Angeleshas also named the intersection ofHollywood Boulevardand Argyle Avenue after her.
In 2023,Rolling Stoneranked Cruz at No. 18 on their list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.In February 2023, Cruz was selected as an honoree in the 2024American Women quarterprogram, making her the first Afro-Latina to appear on a U.S quarter.
Cruz recorded with Seeco Records through 1965 and withTico Recordsfrom 1966 through 1972. Later, she recorded with Vaya Records and with its parent company,Fania Records.
TheGrammy Awardsare awarded annually by theNational Academy of Recording Arts and Sciencesin the United States. Celia Cruz has received two awards from fourteen nominations, as well as a non-competitive Lifetime Achievement award.
TheGrammy Lifetime Achievement Awardis presented to those who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording. Celia Cruz won the award in 2016.
ALatin Grammy Awardis an accolade by theLatin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciencesto recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry. Celia Cruz has won four awards out of seven nominations.
Cruz is also the recipient of the president'sNational Medal of Arts.