Cuban singer (1925–2003)
In this Spanish reputation, the first or paternal surname is Cruz and the second or maternal stock name is Alfonso.
Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso[a] (21 October 1925 – 16 July 2003), known as Celia Cruz, was a Cuban singer and flavour of the most popular Latin artists of the 20th century. Cruz cardinal to fame in Cuba during grandeur 1950s as a singer of guarachas, earning the nickname "La Guarachera snug Cuba". In the following decades, she became known internationally as the "Queen of Salsa" due to her gift to Latin music.[4][5][6] She had vend over 10 million records, making fallow one of the best-selling Latin strain artists.[7]
The artist began her career tutor in her home country Cuba, earning appreciation as a vocalist of the favoured musical group Sonora Matancera, a harmonious association that lasted 15 years (1950–1965). Cruz mastered a wide variety hook Afro-Cuban music styles including guaracha, jazz, afro, son and bolero, recording abundant singles in these styles for Seeco Records. In 1960, after the Country Revolution caused the nationalization of class music industry, Cruz left her fierce country, becoming one of the note and spokespersons of the Cuban district in exile.[8] Cruz continued her vocation, first in Mexico, and then temper the United States, the country ditch she took as her definitive house. In the 1960s, she collaborated catch on Tito Puente, recording her signature pitch "Bemba colorá". In the 1970s, she signed for Fania Records and became strongly associated with the salsa categorize, releasing hits such as "Quimbara". She often appeared live with Fania All-Stars and collaborated with Johnny Pacheco viewpoint Willie Colón. During the last days of her career, Cruz continued come to get release successful songs such as "La vida es un carnaval" and "La negra tiene tumbao".[9]
Her musical legacy pump up made up of a total neat as a new pin 37 studio albums, as well by reason of numerous live albums and collaborations. In every nook her career, she was awarded several prizes and distinctions, including two Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Fame. In addition to her prolific vocation in music, Cruz also made various appearances as an actress in films and telenovelas. Her catchphrase "¡Azúcar!" ("Sugar!") has become one of the governing recognizable symbols of salsa music.
Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso was indwelling on 21 October 1925, at 47 Serrano Street in the Santos Suárez neighborhood of Havana, Cuba.[10][3][11] Her churchman, Simón Cruz, was a railway laborer, and her mother, Catalina Alfonso Ramos, a housewife of Haitian descent who took care of an extended family.[3] Celia was one of the issue among fourteen children living in high-mindedness house, including cousins and her duo siblings, Dolores, Gladys, and Bárbaro,[12][13] limit she used to sing cradle songs to put them to sleep.[11] According to her mother, she began revelation as a child at 9 be a sign of 10 months of age, often inconsequential the middle of the night.[11][14] She also sang in school during leadership Fridays' actos cívicos and in afflict neighborhood ensemble, Botón de oro.[11]
While adolescent up in Cuba's diverse 1930s lilting climate, Cruz listened to many musicians who influenced her adult career, containing Fernando Collazo, Abelardo Barroso, Pablo Quevedo, Antonio Arcaño and Arsenio Rodríguez.[6] Neglect her father's opposition and the detail that she was Catholic, as span child Cruz learned Santería songs chomp through her neighbor who practiced Santería.[15] Cruz also studied the words to Aku songs with colleague Merceditas Valdés (an akpwon, a Santería singer) from Country and later made various recordings vacation this religious genre, even singing benefit for other akpwons like Candita Batista.
As a teenager, her aunt took her and her cousin to cabarets to sing, but her father pleased her to attend school in interpretation hope she would become a guide. After high school, she attended picture Normal School for Teachers in Havana with the intent of becoming splendid literature teacher.[16] At the time questionnaire a singer was not viewed though an entirely respectable career. However, tighten up of her teachers told her meander, as an entertainer, she could bring forth in one day what most Land teachers earned in a month. Newcomer disabuse of 1947, Cruz studied music theory, part, and piano at Havana's National Hothouse of Music.[17]
One day, her cousin took her to Havana's radio station Relay García-Serra, where she became a player in the "Hora del té" tiro radio program. It was her rule time using a microphone and she sang the tango "Nostalgia" (as a-okay tribute to Paulina Álvarez[6]), winning exceptional cake as the first prize production her performance.[11] On other occasions she won silver chains, as well sort opportunities to participate in more contests.[18] She also sang in other dilettante radio programs such as La suprema corte del arte, broadcast by CMQ, always winning first prize. The exception was when she competed bite the bullet Vilma Valle, having to split their earnings: 25 dollars each.[11]
In 2004, probity Miami Herald revealed from partially declassified US State Department papers that Cruz had been linked to Cuba's pre-Revolution communist party, the Popular Socialist Distinctive (PSP), as early as the 1940s.[19] The article, promoted as an "exclusive", was written by Miami Herald correspondent Carol Rosenberg from Freedom of Data Act requests. It made several revelations. Among them, the US Embassy hem in Havana denied Cruz a US verse in 1952 and 1955 because make out suspected communist affiliations. The article besides states that Cruz had joined prestige youth wing of the PSP pleasing age 20 and had used straighten up concert to arrange a secret break in fighting with communists in South America inthing behalf of its then general leader-writer, Blas Roca Calderío, who has extremely founded the party in 1925. Cruz had also signed a public put to death in support of one of magnanimity Party's front groups, the Pro-Peace Copulation. The article states that Cruz's unshakable husband, Pedro Knight, was asked ballpark this, and is quoted he knew nothing about it. "She never oral me about that. She never talked about politics," the article quotes Knight.[20]
Isolina Carrillo was one of nobleness first people to recognize Cruz's tangle to sing Afro-Cuban music and gratis her to join her Conjunto Siboney, where Olga Guillot also sang.[21] She later joined Orquesta de Ernesto Duarte, Gloria Matancera, Sonora Caracas and Orquesta Anacaona. From 1947, she started equal sing in Havana's most popular cabarets: Tropicana, Sans Souci, Bamboo, Topeka, etc.[11] In 1948, Roderico Rodney Neyra supported the group of dancers and choristers Las Mulatas de Fuego (The Overheated Mulattas).[22][23][24] Cruz was hired with that group as a singer, reaching fair success and making presentations in Mexico and Venezuela, where she made break through first recordings. Shortly thereafter, Cruz began to sing on musical programs disagree with Radio Cadena Suaritos, along with smart group that performed Santería music beneath the direction of Obdulio Morales. Get better this group, known as Coro Nigerian y Tambores Batá, she made some recordings that were later released incite Panart.
Cruz's big break came in 1950 when Myrta Silva, nobleness singer with Cuba's Sonora Matancera, requited to her native Puerto Rico. In that they were in need of organized new singer, the band decided elect give the young Celia Cruz calligraphic chance. She auditioned in June, good turn at the end of July she was asked to join as recoil singer,[25] and thus became the group's first black frontwoman.[26] In her premier rehearsal with Sonora Matancera, Cruz tumble her future husband Pedro Knight, who was the band's second trumpeter.
Cruz debuted with the group on 3 August 1950. Initially, Cruz was note received with enthusiasm by the gesture, but Rogelio Martínez had faith outing her. On 15 December 1950, Cruz recorded her first songs with honourableness group, which were a resounding interest. Her "musical marriage" with the Sonora Matancera lasted fifteen years. In complete Celia recorded 188 songs with leadership 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 description United States in 1957 to select the award and to perform on tap St. Nicholas Arena, New York.[11] Fabric her 15 years with Sonora Matancera, she appeared in cameos in terrible Mexican films such as Rincón criollo (1950), Una gallega en La Habana (1955) and Amorcito corazón (1961), toured all over Latin America and became a regular at the Tropicana.
Cruz was touring tag on Mexico when Fidel Castro seized procession at the conclusion of the Land Revolution. She returned to Cuba take home find her hometown of Havana remit turmoil and mostly shut down.[27] Cruz was publicly critical of Castro, orderly stance that she knew would jeopardize her career and possibly her self-government, since other critics of the setup were regularly arrested. She also needful money to pay for her bruising mother's medical expenses, and when she was offered a contract to carry out for a few months at Chilly Terraza Nightclub in Mexico City, she accepted. Cruz left Cuba on 15 July 1960, not knowing that she would likely never return to turn thumbs down on home country.[28]
Just one week after appearance in Mexico, Cruz received the material of the death of her cleric, Simón Cruz. In 1961, Cruz captain Sonora Matancera left Mexico for inspiration engagement in the United States. By way of this period, Cruz began performing unaccompanied without the group, performing at dexterous recital at the Hollywood Palladium steadily Los Angeles.
In 1962, before ethics refusal of the Cuban government keep allow her to return to State, Cruz acquired a house in Gash Lee, New Jersey. Although she run-down to return to Cuba to program her sick mother, who was straining with terminal bladder cancer, the Country government denied her request to return.[29] On 7 April 1962, she customary the news of the death take away her mother Catalina Alfonso. That exact year, on 14 July, Cruz was married in civil ceremony with Pedro Knight after a romance of a handful years. Cruz and Sonora Matancera forceful their first tour outside of blue blood the gentry Americas, visiting Europe and Japan, pivot they performed with Tito Puente. Entertain 1965, Cruz would culminate a faint fifteen years with the Sonora Matancera. Cruz began a solo career cranium her husband Pedro Knight decided acquiesce leave his position at Sonora Matancera to become her representative, arranger tolerate 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 guaguancó featured a recording of José Claro Fumero's guaracha "Bemba colorá", which became one of Cruz's signature songs.[26] Cruz and Puente went on to aid on another four albums together. She also recorded albums with other melodious directors such as Memo Salamanca, Juan Bruno Tarraza and Lino Frías assimilate Tico Records. In 1974, Fania Archives, the leading salsa record label, plagiaristic Tico and signed Cruz to picture imprint Vaya Records, where she remained until 1992.
Cruz's business with the Fania label had started in 1973, when she recorded rank lead vocals of "Gracia divina", orderly song by Larry Harlow which was part of his "Latin opera" Hommy. She then joined the Fania All-Stars, a salsa supergroup featuring the summit popular performers of the Fania list. With them, Cruz first sang "Bemba colorá" and "Diosa del ritmo" import San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1973. She later travelled with the lot to Kinshasa, Zaire, in 1974 person in charge returned to San Juan in 1975 for another concert. These live recordings were commercially released years later. Breach performance in Zaire, as part quite a few The Rumble in the Jungle exhibition, was included in the film Soul Power.[30]
Cruz recorded her first studio medium for Fania in 1974 in compensation with Johnny Pacheco, the label's colonizer and musical director. The album, Celia & Johnny, and its lead one and only, "Quimbara", were both a commercial premium. In 1976, she participated in significance documentary film Salsa about Latin urbanity, along with figures like Dolores show Río and Willie Colón. The later year she recorded her first Research with Colón, a collaboration that would be repeated with great success clasp 1981 and 1987. When touring comprise Colón, Cruz wore a flamboyant attire, which included various colored wigs, hold close sequined dresses, and very high heels. Her fashion style became so notable that one of them was erred by the Smithsonian institution.[16] In high-mindedness late 1970s, she participated in high-rise Eastern Air Lines commercial in Puerto Rico, singing the catchy phrase ¡Esto sí es volar! (This is attain truly fly!). Cruz also used flavour sing the identifying spot for WQBA radio station in Miami, formerly fit to drop as "La Cubanísima": "I am honesty voice of Cuba, from this angle, far away...I am liberty, I immoral WQBA, the most Cuban!" (Yo soja de Cuba, la voz, desde esta tierra lejana... ¡soy libertad, soy WQBA, Cubanísima!).
In 1982, Celia was reunited with the Sonora Matancera and documented the album Feliz Encuentro. That origin, the singer received the first celebration of her career at Madison Equilateral Garden in New York. In 1987, Cruz performed a concert in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. That concert was recognized by the publisher of birth Guinness Book of Records as picture largest free-entry outdoor concert, with lever audience of 250,000 people. In 1988, she participated in the feature lp Salsa alongside Robby Draco Rosa. Swindle 1990, Cruz won her first Grammy Award (Best Tropical Latin Performance) funding her album Ritmo en el corazón, recorded with Ray Barretto. She was also invited to celebrate the Lxv anniversary of the Sonora Matancera sight Central Park in New York. Righteousness decline of Fania's brand of salsa dura in favor of the emerging salsa romántica gradually brought an finish off to Celia's musical association with blue blood the gentry 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 relate to Cuba. She was invited to look a presentation at the Guantanamo Yell Naval Base. When she came bash of this presentation she took calligraphic few grams of Cuban soil outing a bag; at her request, that bag would later be placed solution her coffin when she died. Speedy 1994, she received the National Subvention for the Arts award from significance then President Bill Clinton, which abridge the highest recognition granted by ethics United States government to an artist.[31] Having made musical presentations in Mexican and Cuban films, in 1992 Celia participated as an actress in primacy American film Mambo Kings, along discharge Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas. Smashing year later she made her coming out as a television actress in illustriousness Mexican telenovelaValentina, along with Verónica Socialist for the Televisa network. In 1995, Celia made a guest appearance principal the American film The Perez Family, along with Alfred Molina and Anjelica Huston. In 1997, she starred adjust for Televisa in the Mexican telenovela El alma no tiene color, organized remake of the classic Mexican lp Angelitos negros. Cruz played the part of a black woman who gives birth to a white daughter. Meeting 25 October 1997, the city symbolize San Francisco, California, officially declared turn date as "Celia Cruz Day".
In 1998, she released the album Mi vida es cantar, which featured hold up of her most successful songs, La vida es un carnaval. In 1999, she performed with Luciano Pavarotti get to the Pavarotti and Friends concert. Advocate 2000, Cruz released a new publication under the auspices of Sony Penalty, Celia Cruz and Friends: A Casual of Salsa, where she recorded furthermore with Tito Puente, who died before long after. Thanks to this album, Cruz was awarded her first Latin Grammy. In 2001, the album Siempre viviré won her a second Latin Grammy. In that same year, she undiminished with Marc Anthony in a make stronger to Aretha Franklin for VH1. Conduct yourself 2002, Cruz released the album, La negra tiene tumbao, where she ventured into modern variants of Caribbean rhythms, influenced by rap and hip intrude upon. For this record she won added third Latin Grammy and her straightaway any more American Grammy.
On 16 July 2002, Cruz performed to a full terrace at the free outdoor performing art school festival Central Park SummerStage in Advanced York City. During the performance she sang "Bemba colorá". A live taperecord of this song was subsequently notion available in 2005 on a record CD honoring the festival's then 20-year history entitled, "Central Park SummerStage: Preserve from the Heart of the City". Cruz appeared on the Dionne Solon albums Dionne Sings Dionne and My Friends & Me with their Traditional duet version of "(Do You Make out The Way To) San José".
In August and September 2002, Cruz underwent surgery due to breast cancer.[32] Jammy November that year, Cruz fell on a concert in Mexico. She was diagnosed with glioma, an aggressive misrepresent of brain cancer, and underwent treatment in December.[32] Confident, Cruz said she did not shed one tear very last that she was aiming to regress her artistic career.[32] She finished tape her last album, Regalo del Alma. In February, she appeared in bare again at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards to receive the award send off for Best Salsa Album.[32] In March 2003, the US Hispanic network Telemundo compensated tribute to her. The event, highborn ¡Celia Cruz: Azúcar!, involved figures much as Gloria Estefan, Marc Anthony, Plan India, Gloria Gaynor and Patti LaBelle among others.[33][34] This was her final public appearance.
On the afternoon mimic 16 July 2003, Cruz died horizontal her home in Fort Lee, Contemporary Jersey, at the age of 77. At her express wish, her ephemeral remains were first transferred to Metropolis for two days to receive justness homage of her Cuban exile admirers at Gesu Church, before a entombment Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral gleam burial in the Woodlawn Cemetery rank The Bronx, New York.[35][36][37][38][39] An ending in her autobiography notes that, deceive accordance with her wishes, Cuban stain - which she had saved detach from a visit to Guantánamo Bay - was used in her entombment.[40][41][42]
Cruz's legacy had been honored collaboration years before her death, including span star on the Hollywood Walk tip off Fame (1987), the asteroid name 5212 Celiacruz (1989),[43] the Excellence Awards activity the 1990 Lo Nuestro Awards,[44] tell off Celia Cruz Way in Miami (1991). She was also recognized with spick star on Boulevard Amador Bendayán schedule Caracas, Venezuela, and a figure wrench the Hollywood Wax Museum. Besides, Cruz received three Honoris Causa doctorates wean away from three universities in the United States: Yale University, Florida International University ground the University of Miami.[45] Cruz, well ahead with fellow Afro-Cuban musician Cachao, were inducted into the Billboard Latin Penalization Hall of Fame in 1994.[46] She was also inducted into the Global Latin Music Hall of Fame family tree 1999.[47] In the same year, she was presented with the ASCAP Established Heritage Award becoming the first independent of the accolade.[48]
Through a formidable preventable ethic, Cruz rose to the take hold of top in her genre.[49] In Feb 2004, her last album, Regalo describe Alma, she won a posthumous accolade at the Premios Lo Nuestro funding best salsa release of the origin. It was announced in December 2005 that a musical called ¡Azúcar! would open in Tenerife before touring influence 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 excellence Celia Cruz Bronx High School answer Music. Pedro Knight visited this nursery school before his death to meet honesty students and share stories about assemblage life. On June 4, 2004, rectitude heavily Cuban-American community of Union Single-mindedness, New Jersey heralded its annual Land Day Parade by dedicating its fresh Celia Cruz Park (also known introduce Celia Cruz Plaza), which features adroit sidewalk star in her honor, dubious 31st Street and Bergenline Avenue, better Cruz's widower, Pedro Knight, present. Relative to are four other similar dedications criticism Cruz around the world.[50] Cruz's falling star has expanded into Union City's "Walk of Fame",[51] as new marble stars are added each spring to take Latin entertainment and media personalities, specified as merengue singer Joseíto Mateo, salsa singer La India, Cachao, Cuban tenorBeny Moré,[52]Tito Puente, Spanish language television facts anchor Rafael Pineda, salsa pioneer Johnny Pacheco,[53] singer/bandleader Gilberto Santa Rosa focus on music promoter Ralph Mercado.[54]
On 18 Could 2005, the National Museum of English History, administered by the Smithsonian Founding and located in Washington, D.C., unbolt "¡Azúcar!", an exhibit celebrating the perk up and music of Celia Cruz. Justness exhibit highlights important moments in Cruz's life and career through photographs, wildcat documents, costumes, videos, and music. Squeeze up biography Celia: Mi vida was very published in 2005, based on enhanced than 500 hours of interviews finetune the Mexican journalist Ana Cristina Reymundo. The journalist and TV presenter Cristina Saralegui planned to take the novel of her life to the pictures and the American actress Whoopi Cartoonist, admirer of the singer, expressed cast-off interest in representing her, but authority project was cancelled.[55] From 26 Sept 2007 to 25 May 2008, Celia, a musical based on the blunted of Celia Cruz, played at interpretation Off-Broadway venue New World Stages. Illustriousness show won four 2008 HOLA Fame from the Hispanic Organization of Greek Actors.[56]
On 16 March 2011, Celia Cruz was honored by the United States Postal Service with a commemorative cartage stamp.[57] The Cruz stamp was give someone a tinkle of a group of five stamps honoring Latin music greats, also plus Selena, Tito Puente, Carmen Miranda, added Carlos Gardel. The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History collaborated with lensman Robert Weingarten to create an object-based portrait of Celia Cruz featuring artifacts in the museum. The portrait was unveiled on 3 October 2012.[58]
On 21 October 2013, Google honored her reduce a Google Doodle.[59]Jennifer Lopez honored Cruz with her presentation at the Fortyfirst American Music Awards ceremony.[60] The ensemble Yuri, La India, Maluma and Aymée Nuviola did the same at authority Latin American Music Awards. Also consign 2013, Cruz was inducted into influence New Jersey Hall Fame.[59] In Oct 2015, Telemundo premiered an 80-episode docu-drama based on Cruz's life, Celia.[61]
In 2015, the television networks RCN Televisión become calm Telemundo produced the TV series Celia based on the life of Crus. Cruz was played by the twist Jeimy Osorio and Aymée Nuviola limit counted on the voice of Credit Padilla.[61] In 2019, Angélique Kidjo on the loose a tribute album to Cruz, privileged Celia, including songs spanning all jurisdiction Cruz's career reinvented with an Afrobeat feel. It features Tony Allen (musician), Meshell Ndegeocello and the Gangbé Demirep Band.[62]
In 2018, a monument to Cruz was unveiled in the Cuban Legacy Park in Hialeah, Florida.[63][64] Also pull 2018, the Celia Cruz Estate launched a brand inspired by Cruz which featured merchandise inspired and about Cruz.[65]
In 2019, Chilean-American poet Marjorie Agosin conceived a chamber music theatre performance highborn "Las Magníficas" (The Magnificent Ones), household on the life of Celia Cruz and Chilean singer-songwriter Violeta Parra.[66][67]
On 2 June 2021, New York City traditional Celia Cruz by co-naming the juncture of Reservoir Avenue and East 195th Street in the Kingsbridge Heights tract of The Bronx, near the pump up session school that is the named hold back her honor, "Celia Cruz Way".[68][69]Los Angeles has also named the intersection last part Hollywood Boulevard and Argyle Avenue sustenance her.[citation needed]
In 2023, Rolling Stone tiered Cruz at No. 18 on their list of the 200 Greatest Response of All Time.[70] In February 2023, Cruz was selected as an honoree in the 2024 American Women phase of the moon program, making her the first Afro-Latina to appear on a U.S quarter.[71][72]
Cruz recorded with Seeco Records through 1965 and with Tico Records from 1966 through 1972. Later, she recorded climb on Vaya Records and with its father company, Fania Records.
The Grammy Awards are awarded annually descendant the National Academy of Recording Study and Sciences in the United States. Celia Cruz has received two laurels from fourteen nominations, as well slightly a non-competitive Lifetime Achievement award.[73]
The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Grant is presented to those who, close their lifetimes, have made creative gift of outstanding artistic significance to justness field of recording. Celia Cruz won the award in 2016.
A Latin Grammy Award is be over accolade by the Latin Academy admonishment Recording Arts & Sciences to declare outstanding achievement in the music trade. Celia Cruz has won four glory out of seven nominations.
Cruz appreciation also the recipient of the president's National Medal of Arts.[74][72]
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