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
Born
Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso
(1925-10-21)21 October 1925
Havana, Republic of Cuba
Died
16 July 2003(2003-07-16) (aged 77)
Fort Lee, New Jersey, U.S.
Resting place
Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx, New York)
Occupations
Singer
actress
Years active
1948–2003
Spouse
Pedro Knight
(m. 1962)
Musical career
Genres
Salsa
guaracha
son
bolero
rumba
Instrument(s)
Vocals
Labels
Seeco Records
Tico Records
Fania Records
Barbaro Records
RMM
Sony Discos
Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso (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.[1][2][3] She had sold over 10 million copies, making her one of the best-selling Latin music artists.[4]
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.[5] 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".[6]
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.
^Pareles, Jon (14 December 1992). "Review/Pop; The Queen of Latin Music Takes It From the Top". Retrieved 27 January 2014.
^"Celia Cruz's Shoes". National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
^"The Life and Music of Celia Cruz". Smithsonian Institution. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
^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.
^"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.
^"Diez canciones que inmortalizaron a Celia Cruz, la 'reina de la salsa'". El Heraldo. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso (21 October 1925 – 16 July 2003), known as CeliaCruz, was a Cuban singer and one of the most popular Latin...
Bienvenido Granda, Daniel Santos, Myrta Silva, Miguelito Valdés, Leo Marini, CeliaCruz, Nelson Pinedo, Vicentico Valdés, Estanislao "Laíto" Sureda, Alberto Beltrán...
hit. The song has notably been covered or interpreted by Pete Seeger, CeliaCruz, Compay Segundo and Wyclef Jean. The music for the song is sometimes also...
3, 2007) was a Cuban musician, and the husband and manager of singer CeliaCruz. Pedro Knight Caraballo was born in Cuba September 30, 1921. Knight was...
"Quimbara" is a song performed by Cuban recording artist CeliaCruz and Dominican recording artist Johnny Pacheco. The song written by 20 year old Junior...
Santana and later interpreted, among others, by Julio Iglesias, Irakere and CeliaCruz. In 1969, he received the key to the City of New York from former Mayor...
(February 8, 2023). "CeliaCruz to be first Afro-Latina on US currency". The Hill. Valdivia, Pablo (February 7, 2023). "Queen of salsa CeliaCruz will be the first...
aspires to become a intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. In 1987, singer CeliaCruz went to the Carnival Chicharrero with Billo's Caracas Boys; attended by...
Rodríguez, Conjunto Chappottín and Roberto Faz. These musicians included CeliaCruz, Willie Colón, Rubén Blades, Johnny Pacheco, Machito and Héctor Lavoe...
Quintanilla family to express their condolences were Gloria Estefan, CeliaCruz, Julio Iglesias, and Madonna. Other celebrities—including Stefani Montiel...
Republic. In August 2020, Johnny Pacheco's composition "Celia y Tito" by Tito Puente and CeliaCruz was featured in the 4th-season finale of the NBC TV network...
CeliaCruz Bronx High School of Music (CCBXHSM) is the first comprehensive high school of music in the Bronx, New York, United States. The current principal...
enrolled at the University of Havana to become a teacher. She admired CeliaCruz and like her, she graduated from teaching instruction before starting...
Filipino actor General CeliaCruz (1924–2003), Cuban salsa singer Simon Cruz, Swedish singer of glam metal band Crashdïet Taio Cruz, British singer (born...
2000. Some songs were part of film soundtracks. He starred alongside CeliaCruz in the video "La Negra Tiene Tumbao." Since 2002, Eduardo Antonio has...
"Do You Know the Way to San Jose" is a 1968 popular song written and composed for singer Dionne Warwick by Burt Bacharach. Hal David wrote the lyrics....
as CeliaCruz in the Off-Broadway musical, Celia: The Life and Music of CeliaCruz, a tribute to the life of the late Cuban-American singer. Celia ran...
existed. In 2011 the name Best Tropical Latin Album returned. Salsa Queen CeliaCruz has the record for most nominations in this category with nine. Rubén...
"I Will Survive" is a song by American singer Gloria Gaynor, released in October 1978 as the second single from her sixth album, Love Tracks (1978). It...
CeliaCruz. The song was written by Victor Daniel, produced by Isidro Infante, arranged by Isidro Infante and released as the lead single from Cruz's...
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