While she did much later do a concert at the American military base in Guantanamo, Celia was never allowed to return to Cuba proper. The government tried to control the country’s most famous performing artist by harassing her family.Ĭelia became an outspoken advocate against the Cuban revolutionary government. It was a great source of pain for Celia because she loved her country and her family was there. When Celia and La Sonora Matancera went to Mexico to perform in 1960, they never went home. The Cuban Revolution of 1959 led to a lot of changes. He had been a famous womanizer, but for Celia he straightened right up and became a good partner. She quickly became even more famous than the band.Īfter a long courtship, Celia got involved with the band’s trumpeter Pedro Knight. The band and Celia helped popularize the Cuban style of Latin music. In 1955 Sonora Matancera started touring the Caribbean and Latin America. Their first recording together, Cao cao, maní picao (Seeco Records, 1950) was a hit. Celia had a giant voice.Ĭelia got her start after winning a singing contest on Havana’s radio station Radio García Serra in 1947.Ĭelia got her break in 1950 when Cuba’s most popular dance band Conjunto Sonora Matancera needed a new singer. She was a shy young woman, but when she sang, oh my God.
That sensitivity would later serve her well in her career.Ĭelia’s father wanted her to be a teacher. Though raised Catholic, as a child Celia was influenced by the energy of Santería, the Yoruban African religion which dominates Latin America. What we now call Salsa or Latin music was originally Cuban dance music. Coincidentally, Dizzy Gillespie, the father of Bebop, Modern Jazz, and Latin Jazz has the same birthday.Ĭelia grew up in 1930s Havana which was the crucible of Latin music. Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso was born in Havana, Cuba on October 21, 1925. Celia Cruz was born in the crucible of Latin Music The only non-Puerto Rican artist who excites everyone is Celia. Sometimes they stop their cars, and get out and sing and dance with us. In Puerto Rico, we play Puerto Rican salsa and sometimes reggaeton. New music is blended by our post-modern age, but old music is filled with the secrets of the place. More importantly the culture is in the old songs. We only play the local music and learn to sing and dance it. Wherever we go, we force ourselves to think, speak and read the local language. We are travelers who publish New York Latin Culture Magazine from the road in Latin capitals around the Latin world. Salsa, and good salsa, is everywhere now. Singers have to sing and since she couldn’t go home, Celia sang all over the world. Refusing to serve the Revolution, she was never allowed back to Cuba (except for one trip to sing at the U.S. She went to work in Mexico with her band La Sonora Matancera right after the Cuban Revolution of 1959.
Celia Cruz in 1962 (PD/Library of Congress) Latin music is created by many people and nationalities, but more than anyone else, Celia is the one who popularized Latin music around the world. (It literally means sugar, but is like saying “sweet” as in good). What does everyone say when saluting Celia? ¡Azúcar! of course. As reported on NY1 Noticias, the unveiling was attended by Omer Pardillo, Celia’s former manager and president of the Celia Cruz Foundation, NY City Councilman Fernando Cabrera, Celia’s friend and stylist Ruth Sánchez Laviera, and members of the Celia Cruz High School orchestra. It’s down the block from the Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music. J~ Celia Cruz, the Queen of Salsa was recognized with her own street, Celia Cruz Way, at the corner of Reservoir Avenue and West 195th St in Jerome Park, The Bronx, “el condado de la salsa,” the county or birthplace of la salsa. Celia is Forever! Celia Cruz Gets Her Own Street in The Bronx Celia Cruz Way at Reservoir Ave and W 195th St in Jerome Park, The Bronx (courtesy Omer Pardillo Cid)
She evolved from that old Cuban sound to full on New York Swing.Ĭelia’s spirit will never leave us. You can follow much of the development of Latin music through Celia’s career from La Sonora Matancera, to Tito Puente in New York, to Johnny Pacheco at FANIA and then with Omer Pardillo. Celia Cruz by Adál Maldonado (Maldonado Estate / Roberto Paradise) #AdalLives The love Celia shared with her husband Pedro Knight is one of the great love stories. She is remembered as the “ The Queen of Salsa,” although to our ear she is more naturally a rumbera. Celia Cruz was is the most famous and influential woman in Latin music and what became La Salsa.