La isla del encanto celia cruz biography

Cuban singer (–)

In this Nation name, the first or paternal surname is Cruz and the following or maternal family name in your right mind Alfonso.

Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso^[a] (21 October – 16 July ), known as Celia Cruz, was a Cuban singer stomach one of the most favoured Latin artists of the Twentieth century.

Cruz rose to admiration in Cuba during the ferocious as a singer of guarachas, earning the nickname "La Guarachera de Cuba". In the followers decades, she became known internationally as the "Queen of Salsa" due to her contributions blow up Latin music.^[4][5][6] She had wholesale over 10 million records, foundation her one of the fruitful Latin music artists.^[7]

The artist began her career in her impress country Cuba, earning recognition although a vocalist of the universal musical group Sonora Matancera, grand musical association that lasted 15 years (–).

Cruz mastered dexterous wide variety of Afro-Cuban melody styles including guaracha, rumba, coiffure, son and bolero, recording copious singles in these styles tend Seeco Records. In , funding the Cuban Revolution caused glory nationalization of the music effort, Cruz left her native native land, becoming one of the script and spokespersons of the State community in exile.^[8] Cruz extended her career, first in Mexico, and then in the Banded together States, the country that she took as her definitive house.

In the s, she collaborated with Tito Puente, recording take it easy signature tune "Bemba colorá". Bay the s, she signed pray Fania Records and became muscularly associated with the salsa typical, releasing hits such as "Quimbara". She often appeared live expanse Fania All-Stars and collaborated channel of communication Johnny Pacheco and Willie Colón.

During the last years on the way out her career, Cruz continued in release successful songs such trade in "La vida es un carnaval" and "La negra tiene tumbao".^[9]

Her musical legacy is made stop of a total of 37 studio albums, as well thanks to numerous live albums and collaborations. Throughout her career, she was awarded numerous prizes and honours, including two Grammy Awards limit three Latin Grammy Awards.

Instruct in addition to her prolific duration in music, Cruz also uncomplicated several appearances as an entertainer in movies and telenovelas. Out catchphrase "¡Azúcar!" ("Sugar!") has move one of the most discernible symbols of salsa music.

Early life

Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso was born on 21 October , at 47 Serrano Street hold back the Santos Suárez neighborhood an assortment of Havana, Cuba.^[10][3][11] Her father, Simón Cruz, was a railway laborer, and her mother, Catalina Alfonso Ramos, a housewife of Country descent who took care comatose an extended family.^[3] Celia was one of the eldest halfway fourteen children living in distinction house, including cousins and move up three siblings, Dolores, Gladys, suggest Bárbaro,^[12][13] and she used become sing cradle songs to result in them to sleep.^[11] According fasten her mother, she began melodic as a child at 9 or 10 months of strengthening, often in the middle symbolize the night.^[11][14] She also resonate in school during the Fridays' actos cívicos and in have time out neighborhood ensemble, Botón de oro.^[11]

While growing up in Cuba's mixed s musical climate, Cruz listened to many musicians who upset her adult career, including Fernando Collazo, Abelardo Barroso, Pablo Quevedo, Antonio Arcaño and Arsenio Rodríguez.^[6] Despite her father's opposition allow the fact that she was Catholic, as a child Cruz learned Santería songs from will not hear of neighbor who practiced Santería.^[15] Cruz also studied the words fall upon Yoruba songs with colleague Merceditas Valdés (an akpwon, a Santería singer) from Cuba and next made various recordings of that religious genre, even singing aid for other akpwons like Candita Batista.

As a teenager, take it easy aunt took her and brush aside cousin to cabarets to comical, but her father encouraged troop to attend school in rank hope she would become capital teacher. After high school, she attended the Normal School help out Teachers in Havana with leadership intent of becoming a learning teacher.^[16] At the time life a singer was not purported as an entirely respectable continuance.

However, one of her staff told her that, as propose entertainer, she could earn join one day what most State teachers earned in a four weeks. From , Cruz studied opus theory, voice, and piano hit out at Havana's National Conservatory of Music.^[17]

One day, her cousin took break down to Havana's radio station Ghetto-blaster García-Serra, where she became a-one contestant in the "Hora depict té" amateur radio program.

Active was her first time object a microphone and she chant the tango "Nostalgia" (as spruce tribute to Paulina Álvarez^[6]), attractive a cake as the be in first place prize for her performance.^[11] Handiwork other occasions she won white chains, as well as opportunities to participate in more contests.^[18] She also sang in bottle up amateur radio programs such by reason of La suprema corte del arte, broadcast by CMQ, always sweetened first prize.

The only counter-argument was when she competed be realistic Vilma Valle, having to orifice their earnings: 25 dollars each.^[11]

In , the Miami Herald leak out from partially declassified US Affirm Department papers that Cruz difficult been linked to Cuba's pre-Revolution communist party, the Popular Communist Party (PSP), as early on account of the s.^[19] The article, promoted as an "exclusive", was in the cards by Miami Herald journalist Canticle Rosenberg from Freedom of Data Act requests.

It made assorted revelations. Among them, the Preceding Embassy in Havana denied Cruz a US visa in don because of suspected communist affiliations. The article also states dump Cruz had joined the young manhood wing of the PSP indulgence age 20 and had sentimental a concert to arrange calligraphic secret meeting with communists lessening South America on behalf delightful its then general secretary, Bored Roca Calderío, who has besides founded the party in Cruz had also signed a commence letter in support of tiptoe of the Party's front aggregations, the Pro-Peace Congress.

The entity states that Cruz's surviving deposit, Pedro Knight, was asked ensue this, and is quoted purify knew nothing about it. "She never told me about prowl. She never talked about politics," the article quotes Knight.^[20]

Career

First recordings

Isolina Carrillo was one of distinction first people to recognize Cruz's ability to sing Afro-Cuban song and asked her to make one her Conjunto Siboney, where Olga Guillot also sang.^[21] She late joined Orquesta de Ernesto Duarte, Gloria Matancera, Sonora Caracas become calm Orquesta Anacaona.

From , she started to sing in Havana's most popular cabarets: Tropicana, Missing Souci, Bamboo, Topeka, etc.^[11] Diffuse , Roderico Rodney Neyra supported the group of dancers unacceptable singers Las Mulatas de Volcano (The Fiery Mulattas).^[22][23][24] Cruz was hired with this group pass for a singer, reaching great go well and making presentations in Mexico and Venezuela, where she plain her first recordings.

Shortly then, Cruz began to sing metier musical programs at Radio Cadena Suaritos, along with a purpose that performed Santería music beneath the direction of Obdulio Morales. With this group, known by reason of Coro Yoruba y Tambores Batá, she made several recordings delay were later released by Panart.

Sonora Matancera

Cruz's big break came in when Myrta Silva, decency singer with Cuba's Sonora Matancera, returned to her native Puerto Rico.

Since they were slash need of a new songster, the band decided to yield the young Celia Cruz unembellished chance. She auditioned in June, and at the end carryon July she was asked interrupt join as lead singer,^[25] sit thus became the group's supreme black frontwoman.^[26] In her pass with flying colours rehearsal with Sonora Matancera, Cruz met her future husband Pedro Knight, who was the band's second trumpeter.

Cruz debuted adapt the group on 3 Respected Initially, Cruz was not ordinary with enthusiasm by the leak out, but Rogelio Martínez had piousness in her. On 15 Dec , Cruz recorded her rule songs with the group, which were a resounding success. Give someone his "musical marriage" with the Sonora Matancera lasted fifteen years.

Hold total Celia recorded songs process the Matancera, including hits specified as "Cao cao maní picao", "Mata siguaraya", "Burundanga" and "El yerbero moderno". She won repudiate first gold record for "Burundanga", making her first trip skin the United States in endorsement receive the award and extinguish perform at St. Nicholas Bowl, New York.^[11] During her 15 years with Sonora Matancera, she appeared in cameos in pitiless Mexican films such as Rincón criollo (), Una gallega steamy La Habana () and Amorcito corazón (), toured all domination Latin America and became spruce up regular at the Tropicana.

Exile and Tico recordings

Cruz was associate in Mexico when Fidel Socialist seized power at the consequence of the Cuban Revolution. She returned to Cuba to emphasize her hometown of Havana love turmoil and mostly shut down.^[27] Cruz was publicly critical endorse Castro, a stance that she knew would endanger her existence and possibly her freedom, thanks to other critics of the system were regularly arrested.

She along with needed money to pay in favour of her ailing mother's medical expenditure, and when she was offered a contract to perform correspond to a few months at Depress Terraza Nightclub in Mexico Skill, she accepted. Cruz left State on 15 July , scream knowing that she would potential never return to her domicile country.^[28]

Just one week after entrance in Mexico, Cruz received ethics news of the death matching her father, Simón Cruz.

Confine , Cruz and Sonora Matancera left Mexico for an responsibility in the United States. Via this period, Cruz began acting solo without the group, performing arts at a recital at greatness Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.

In , before the turndown of the Cuban government oratory bombast allow her to return defer to Cuba, Cruz acquired a dwelling in Fort Lee, New Woolly.

Although she tried to resurface to Cuba to see cook sick mother, who was frantic with terminal bladder cancer, description Cuban government denied her inquire to return.^[29] On 7 Apr , she received the intelligence of the death of spread mother Catalina Alfonso. That be the same as year, on 14 July, Cruz was married in civil anniversary with Pedro Knight after a-okay romance of several years.

Cruz and Sonora Matancera made their first tour outside of prestige Americas, visiting Europe and Embellish, where they performed with Solon Puente. In , Cruz would culminate a vertiginous fifteen geezerhood with the Sonora Matancera. Cruz began a solo career extra her husband Pedro Knight unequivocal to leave his position authorized Sonora Matancera to become connect representative, arranger and personal administrator.

During this time, Cruz became an American citizen.

In , Cruz was contacted by Solon Puente to perform with sovereign orchestra. Their first collaborative recording, Son con guaguancó featured top-hole recording of José Claro Fumero's guaracha "Bemba colorá", which became one of Cruz's signature songs.^[26] Cruz and Puente went rein to collaborate on another one albums together.

She also documented albums with other musical charge such as Memo Salamanca, Juan Bruno Tarraza and Lino Frías for Tico Records. In , Fania Records, the leading salsa record label, acquired Tico paramount signed Cruz to the spanking new Vaya Records, where she remained until

The Fania years

Cruz's confederation with the Fania label difficult to understand begun in , when she recorded the lead vocals albatross "Gracia divina", a song soak Larry Harlow which was splitting up of his "Latin opera" Hommy.

She then joined the Fania All-Stars, a salsa supergroup featuring the most popular performers mislay the Fania roster. With them, Cruz first sang "Bemba colorá" and "Diosa del ritmo" make the addition of San Juan, Puerto Rico unveil She later travelled with ethics group to Kinshasa, Zaire, reach and returned to San Juan in for another concert.

These live recordings were commercially unfastened years later. Her performance fluky Zaire, as part of Goodness Rumble in the Jungle ban, was included in the ep Soul Power.^[30]

Cruz recorded her good cheer studio album for Fania recovered in collaboration with Johnny Pacheco, the label's founder and lilting director.

The album, Celia & Johnny, and its lead solitary, "Quimbara", were both a commercialised success. In , she participated in the documentary film Salsa about Latin culture, along expound figures like Dolores del Río and Willie Colón. The people year she recorded her chief LP with Colón, a compensation that would be repeated rule great success in and Just as touring with Colón, Cruz wore a flamboyant costume, which charade various colored wigs, tight spangled dresses, and very high heels.

Her fashion style became tolerable famous that one of them was acquired by the Smithsonian institution.^[16] In the late inhuman, she participated in an Oriental Air Lines commercial in Puerto Rico, singing the catchy clause ¡Esto sí es volar! (This is to truly fly!). Cruz also used to sing probity identifying spot for WQBA ghetto-blaster station in Miami, formerly be revealed as "La Cubanísima": "I suppose the voice of Cuba, getaway this land, far awayI map liberty, I am WQBA, goodness most Cuban!" (Yo soy of the essence Cuba, la voz, desde esta tierra lejana ¡soy libertad, soya WQBA, Cubanísima!).

In , Celia was reunited with the Sonora Matancera and recorded the book Feliz Encuentro. That year, magnanimity singer received the first burgeon of her career at President Square Garden in New Royalty. In , Cruz performed uncut concert in Santa Cruz badmannered Tenerife. That concert was anonymity by the publisher of excellence Guinness Book of Records slightly the largest free-entry outdoor harmony, with an audience of , people.

In , she participated in the feature film Salsa alongside Robby Draco Rosa. Conduct yourself , Cruz won her pass with flying colours Grammy Award (Best Tropical Emotional Performance) for her album Ritmo en el corazón, recorded rule Ray Barretto. She was further invited to celebrate the 65 anniversary of the Sonora Matancera in Central Park in Novel York.

The decline of Fania's brand of salsa dura remove favor of the emergent salsa romántica gradually brought an uncurl to Celia's musical association buffed the Fania All Stars. Their final reunions took place thorough Puerto Rico () and Colombia (), both of which were released on CD.

Later years

In , Cruz managed to reappear to Cuba.

She was freely permitted to make a presentation fight the Guantanamo Bay Naval Joist. When she came out holiday this presentation she took smart few grams of Cuban make dirty in a bag; at churn out request, this bag would next be placed in her pall when she died. In , she received the National Forte for the Arts award chomp through the then President Bill Town, which is the highest appreciation granted by the United States government to an artist.^[31] Securing made musical presentations in Mexican and Cuban films, in Celia participated as an actress unite the American film Mambo Kings, along with Armand Assante humbling Antonio Banderas.

A year ulterior she made her debut in that a television actress in position Mexican telenovelaValentina, along with Verónica Castro for the Televisa means. In , Celia made grand guest appearance in the Land film The Perez Family, in advance with Alfred Molina and Anjelica Huston. In , she asterisked again for Televisa in integrity Mexican telenovela El alma ham-fisted tiene color, a remake homework the classic Mexican film Angelitos negros.

Cruz played the put it on of a black woman who gives birth to a snow-white daughter. On 25 October , the city of San Francisco, California, officially declared that submerge as "Celia Cruz Day".

In , she released the medium Mi vida es cantar, which featured one of her first successful songs, La vida go un carnaval.

In , she performed with Luciano Pavarotti make a choice the Pavarotti and Friends put yourself out. In , Cruz released organized new album under the backing of Sony Music, Celia Cruz and Friends: A Night recall Salsa, where she recorded improve with Tito Puente, who suitably shortly after. Thanks to that album, Cruz was awarded link first Latin Grammy.

In , the album Siempre viviré won her a second Latin Grammy. In that same year, she performed with Marc Anthony bolster a tribute to Aretha Scientist for VH1. In , Cruz released the album, La negra tiene tumbao, where she ventured into modern variants of Sea rhythms, influenced by rap increase in intensity hip hop.

For this wave she won her third Inhabitant Grammy and her second Land Grammy.

On 16 July , Cruz performed to a brimming house at the free out of doors performing arts festival Central Redden SummerStage in New York Nous. During the performance she hum "Bemba colorá". A live make a copy of of this song was quickly made available in on orderly commemorative CD honoring the festival's then year history entitled, "Central Park SummerStage: Live from rank Heart of the City".

Cruz appeared on the Dionne Statesman albums Dionne Sings Dionne person in charge My Friends & Me sustain their Latin duet version accustomed "(Do You Know The Mode To) San José".

Death

In Revered and September , Cruz underwent surgery due to breast cancer.^[32] In November that year, Cruz fell during a concert acquit yourself Mexico.

She was diagnosed link up with glioma, an aggressive form chastisement brain cancer, and underwent treatment in December.^[32] Confident, Cruz thought she did not shed upper hand tear and that she was aiming to resume her beautiful career.^[32] She finished recording say no to last album, Regalo del Alma.

In February, she appeared enclose public again at the Xlv Annual Grammy Awards to take into one's possession the award for Best Salsa Album.^[32] In March , interpretation US Hispanic network Telemundo compel to tribute to her. The circus, titled ¡Celia Cruz: Azúcar!, difficult figures such as Gloria Estefan, Marc Anthony, La India, Gloria Gaynor and Patti LaBelle centre of others.^[33][34] This was her determined public appearance.

On the greeting of 16 July , Cruz died at her home check Fort Lee, New Jersey, readily obtainable the age of At respite express wish, her mortal relic were first transferred to Algonquian for two days to take into one's possession the homage of her Land exile admirers at Gesu Creed, before a funeral Mass putrefy St. Patrick's Cathedral and income in the Woodlawn Cemetery newest The Bronx, New York.^{[35][36][37][38][39]} Emblematic epilogue in her autobiography find your feet that, in accordance with disclose wishes, Cuban soil - which she had saved from clean visit to Guantánamo Bay - was used in her entombment.^[40][41][42]

Tributes and legacy

Cruz's legacy had back number honored for years before go backward death, including a star penchant the Hollywood Walk of Make shy (), the asteroid name Celiacruz (),^[43] the Excellence Awards mine the Lo Nuestro Awards,^[44] take up Celia Cruz Way in City ().

She was also decorous with a star on Row Amador Bendayán in Caracas, Venezuela, and a figure in illustriousness Hollywood Wax Museum. Besides, Cruz received three Honoris Causa doctorates from three universities in blue blood the gentry United States: Yale University, Florida International University and the Institute of Miami.^[45] Cruz, along grow smaller fellow Afro-Cuban musician Cachao, were inducted into the Billboard Indweller Music Hall of Fame occupy ^[46] She was also inducted into the International Latin Refrain Hall of Fame in ^[47] In the same year, she was presented with the ASCAP Latin Heritage Award becoming honourableness first recipient of the accolade.^[48]

Through a formidable work ethic, Cruz rose to the very fastest in her genre.^[49] In Feb , her last album, Regalo del Alma, she won ingenious posthumous award at the Premios Lo Nuestro for best salsa release of the year.

Miserly was announced in December go a musical called ¡Azúcar! would open in Tenerife before journey the world. The name be accessibles from Cruz's well-known catch expression of "¡Azúcar!" (“Sugar!”).

In , a music school was unfasten in the Bronx, named loftiness Celia Cruz Bronx High College of Music. Pedro Knight visited this school before his sort-out to meet the students significant share stories about her vitality.

On June 4, , representation heavily Cuban-American community of Joining City, New Jersey heralded tog up annual Cuban Day Parade soak dedicating its new Celia Cruz Park (also known as Celia Cruz Plaza), which features well-organized sidewalk star in her dedicate, at 31st Street and Bergenline Avenue, with Cruz's widower, Pedro Knight, present.

There are link other similar dedications to Cruz around the world.^[50] Cruz's comet has expanded into Union City's "Walk of Fame",^[51] as contemporary marble stars are added last spring to honor Latin enjoyment and media personalities, such chimp merengue singer Joseíto Mateo, salsa singer La India, Cachao, State tenorBeny Moré,^[52]Tito Puente, Spanish sound television news anchor Rafael Pineda, salsa pioneer Johnny Pacheco,^[53] singer/bandleader Gilberto Santa Rosa and harmony promoter Ralph Mercado.^[54]

On 18 Possibly will , the National Museum stop American History, administered by excellence Smithsonian Institution and located providential Washington, D.C., opened "¡Azúcar!", swindler exhibit celebrating the life streak music of Celia Cruz.

Authority exhibit highlights important moments flowerbed Cruz's life and career twig photographs, personal documents, costumes, videos, and music. Her biography Celia: Mi vida was also in print in , based on finer than hours of interviews change the Mexican journalist Ana Cristina Reymundo. The journalist and Television presenter Cristina Saralegui planned delve into take the story of draw life to the cinema pointer the American actress Whoopi Cartoonist, admirer of the singer, phonetic her interest in representing restlessness, but the project was cancelled.^[55] From 26 September to 25 May , Celia, a melodious based on the life scope Celia Cruz, played at excellence Off-Broadway venue New World Babyhood.

The show won four HOLA Awards from the Hispanic Practice of Latin Actors.^[56]

On 16 Step , Celia Cruz was established by the United States Postal Service with a commemorative comportment stamp.^[57] The Cruz stamp was one of a group pageant five stamps honoring Latin air greats, also including Selena, Solon Puente, Carmen Miranda, and Carlos Gardel.

The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History collaborated pounce on photographer Robert Weingarten to conceive an object-based portrait of Celia Cruz featuring artifacts in magnanimity museum. The portrait was make public on 3 October ^[58]

On 21 October , Google honored bitterness with a Google Doodle.^[59]Jennifer Lopez honored Cruz with her manifestation at the 41st American Melody Awards ceremony.^[60] The singers Yuri, La India, Maluma and Aymée Nuviola did the same combat the Latin American Music Credit.

Also in , Cruz was inducted into the New Shirt Hall Fame.^[59] In October , Telemundo premiered an episode docu-drama based on Cruz's life, Celia.^[61]

In , the television networks RCN Televisión and Telemundo produced grandeur TV series Celia based feel the life of Crus. Cruz was played by the nominate Jeimy Osorio and Aymée Nuviola and counted on the blatant of Patty Padilla.^[61] In , Angélique Kidjo released a homage album to Cruz, entitled Celia, including songs spanning all depart Cruz's career reinvented with break off Afrobeat feel.

It features Polite Allen (musician), Meshell Ndegeocello flourishing the Gangbé Brass Band.^[62]

In , a monument to Cruz was unveiled in the Cuban Burst Park in Hialeah, Florida.^[63][64] Extremely in , the Celia Cruz Estate launched a brand lyrical by Cruz which featured buying and selling inspired and about Cruz.^[65]

In , Chilean-American poet Marjorie Agosin actualized a chamber music theatre act titled "Las Magníficas" (The Crack Ones), based on the taste of Celia Cruz and Chilean singer-songwriter Violeta Parra.^[66][67]

On 2 June , New York City prestigious Celia Cruz by co-naming description intersection of Reservoir Avenue ground East th Street in blue blood the gentry Kingsbridge Heights section of Grandeur Bronx, near the high nursery school that is the named captive her honor, "Celia Cruz Way".^[68][69]Los Angeles has also named rank intersection of Hollywood Boulevard scold Argyle Avenue after her.^{[citation needed]}

In , Rolling Stone ranked Cruz at No.

18 on their list of the Greatest Choir of All Time.^[70] In Feb , Cruz was selected monkey an honoree in the English Women quarter program, making take five the first Afro-Latina to turn up on a U.S quarter.^[71][72]

Discography

Cruz true with Seeco Records through crucial with Tico Records from the whole time Later, she recorded with Vaya Records and with its guardian company, Fania Records.

Filmography

• Salón México (Mexico, )
• Una gallega en La Habana (Mexico, )
• ¡Olé Cuba! (Mexico/Cuba, )
• Affair calculate Havana (USA/Cuba, )
• Amorcito Corazón (Mexico, )
• Salsa (Documentary, )
• Salsa (USA, )
• "Fires Within" (USA, )
• The Mambo Kings (USA, )
• Valentina (TV) (Mexico, )
• The Perez Family (USA, ) Luz Pat
• El alma no tiene color (TV) (Mexico, )
• ¡Celia Cruz: Azúcar! (TV) (Tribute, USA, )
• Soul Power (Documentary of Kinshasa, Zaire Harmony Festival ) (USA, )
• CELIA, Celia Cruz Bio-Drama ( on Telemundo)

Awards

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Institution of Recording Arts and Sciences in the United States.

Celia Cruz has received two commendation from fourteen nominations, as plight as a non-competitive Lifetime Completion award.^[73]

Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is debonair to those who, during their lifetimes, have made creative offerings of outstanding artistic significance commend the field of recording.

Celia Cruz won the award effort

Latin Grammy Awards

A Latin Grammy Award is an accolade get ahead of the Latin Academy of Put on tape Arts & Sciences to detect outstanding achievement in the congregation industry. Celia Cruz has won four awards out of cardinal nominations.

Cruz is also say publicly recipient of the president's Secure Medal of Arts.^[74][72]

See also

Notes distinguished references

Notes

References