Celia Cruz was born Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso on October 21st, 1925 in Havana, Cuba. That’s quite a name for the iconic “Queen of Salsa”! She was the 2nd of 4 children and one of the 14 children in her extended household. She displayed signs of what was to come, often singing her siblings and cousins to sleep at night.
Growing up, she participated in local talent shows winning several small prizes. It is even said that her first pair of shoes were bought for her by a tourist that she sang to. Her aunt gave her introduction to professional music by taking her to perform at the nightclubs and cabaret shows. She was destined to become a star.
Growing up in the 1930’s her musical influences ranged from her idol Afro-Cuban vocalist Paulina Alverez to the prolific composer Arsenio Rodríguez. Although her father wished for her to become a teacher, Cruz continued on a musical path by singing for several radio stations. In those days, performing for radio was a common way to break into music industry.
Indeed, she went on to win more radio contests and enrolled in Cuba’s Conservatory of music in 1947 where she studied piano, music theory, and voice. Along the way she developed important relationships with the musicians and influential producers of that time. This led to her first major breakthrough in 1950 when she was selected to be the lead singer for La Sonora Matancera, a famous Cuban orchestra.
She was to be forever shaped by her experiences in the 15 years with La Sonora Matancera. It was during this she exploded into stardom and toured the world. And it was in the band that she met her eventual husband and lifelong companion, Pedro Knight.
The 1950’s was a bustling time in Cuba’s history. It became world renowned for its nightlife and theater shows. The most famous nightclub at the time was The Tropicana. Cruz performed there many times and it gave her a chance to develop her musical personality outside of La Sonora Matancera.
But the 1950’s Cuba was also a turbulent time wrought with political instability. Fidel Castro was about to take power in a revolution. On July 15th, 1960, Cruz left her Cuban homeland for the United States never to return.
In 1965, she left La Sonora Matancera to start a solo career teaming up with the legendary timbales player, Tito Puente. They went on to record 8 records together. Although she didn’t have any major successes during this time, she got to collaborate with Salsa greats like Oscar D’Leon and Hector Rodriquez, among others.
She finally hit it big in the United States in 1974 with the classic Salsa album with Johnny Pacheco, Celia and Johnny. Many consider this to be the greatest Salsa album of all time and the highlight of her career. Celia would soon begin appearing with the critically acclaimed Fania All-Stars again touring the world.
The 1980’s was a slow decade for Cruz, but she continued to make music. In 1992, she appeared in the film The Mambo Kings and her popularity once again rose to an unprecedented levels. Now in her 60’s and 70’s, she began to be recognized for her incredible body of work. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a lifetime achievement award from the Smithsonian, and the National Medal of Arts presented to her by President Bill Clinton. She also has a street named after her in Miami.
She would appear in several more films and sing with yet more amazing musicians. She continued to perform right up to her death on July 16th, 2003 when she succumbed to a brain tumor.
Celia Cruz’s legacy can not be understated. In the end, she recorded over 50 albums of which more than 20 reached gold status and winning a total of 3 Grammy Awards and 4 Latin Grammy Awards.
Celia Cruz transcended music, a true trailblazer being one of the only women in Salsa. She knocked down barriers of race and sexism and brought people together. Remember she came to the United States as an Afro-Cuban woman during the civil rights struggles of the 1960’s. And Cruz proudly celebrated her blackness often singing about it in her music and sporting Afros and colorful African caftans on stage. Cruz spent a lot of time in the dressing room and had incredible sense of fashion, always wearing glitzy costumes, shoes, makeup and accessories. See some of her clothes from her dressing room is on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
Celia was a beautiful and confident woman full of life. On stage, she brought a commanding presence and an unmatched charisma and sense of humor. Her passion for music, impeccable rhythm, improvisational style, and powerful voice would send the crowd into a dance parties. Quincy Jones eloquently stated, “A person’s music can never be more or less than what they are as a human being and that’s what’s powerful about Celia. Her music is who she is, down to the rock bottom.” She was a truly unique soul; there will never be another Celia Cruz.
Celia Cruz was born Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso on October 21st, 1925 in Havana, Cuba. That’s quite a name for the iconic “Queen of Salsa”! She was the 2nd of 4 children and one of the 14 children in her extended household. She displayed signs of what was to come, often singing her siblings and cousins to sleep at night.
Growing up, she participated in local talent shows winning several small prizes. It is even said that her first pair of shoes were bought for her by a tourist that she sang to. Her aunt gave her introduction to professional music by taking her to perform at the nightclubs and cabaret shows. She was destined to become a star.
Growing up in the 1930’s her musical influences ranged from her idol Afro-Cuban vocalist Paulina Alverez to the prolific composer Arsenio Rodríguez. Although her father wished for her to become a teacher, Cruz continued on a musical path by singing for several radio stations. In those days, performing for radio was a common way to break into music industry.
Indeed, she went on to win more radio contests and enrolled in Cuba’s Conservatory of music in 1947 where she studied piano, music theory, and voice. Along the way she developed important relationships with the musicians and influential producers of that time. This led to her first major breakthrough in 1950 when she was selected to be the lead singer for La Sonora Matancera, a famous Cuban orchestra.
She was to be forever shaped by her experiences in the 15 years with La Sonora Matancera. It was during this she exploded into stardom and toured the world. And it was in the band that she met her eventual husband and lifelong companion, Pedro Knight.
The 1950’s was a bustling time in Cuba’s history. It became world renowned for its nightlife and theater shows. The most famous nightclub at the time was The Tropicana. Cruz performed there many times and it gave her a chance to develop her musical personality outside of La Sonora Matancera.
But the 1950’s Cuba was also a turbulent time wrought with political instability. Fidel Castro was about to take power in a revolution. On July 15th, 1960, Cruz left her Cuban homeland for the United States never to return.
In 1965, she left La Sonora Matancera to start a solo career teaming up with the legendary timbales player, Tito Puente. They went on to record 8 records together. Although she didn’t have any major successes during this time, she got to collaborate with Salsa greats like Oscar D’Leon and Hector Rodriquez, among others.
She finally hit it big in the United States in 1974 with the classic Salsa album with Johnny Pacheco, Celia and Johnny. Many consider this to be the greatest Salsa album of all time and the highlight of her career. Celia would soon begin appearing with the critically acclaimed Fania All-Stars again touring the world.
The 1980’s were a slow decade for Cruz, but she continued to make music. In 1992, she appeared in the film The Mambo Kings and her popularity once again rose to an unprecedented levels. Now in her 60’s and 70’s, she began to be recognized for her incredible body of work. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a lifetime achievement award from the Smithsonian, and the National Medal of Arts presented to her by President Bill Clinton. She also has a street named after her in Miami.
She would appear in several more films and sing with yet more amazing musicians. She continued to perform right up to her death on July 16th, 2003 when she succumbed to a brain tumor.
Celia Cruz’s legacy can not be understated. In the end, she recorded over 50 albums of which more than 20 reached gold status and winning a total of 3 Grammy Awards and 4 Latin Grammy Awards.
Celia Cruz transcended music, a true trailblazer being one of the only women in Salsa. She knocked down barriers of race and sexism and brought people together. Remember she came to the United States as an Afro-Cuban woman during the civil rights struggles of the 1960’s. And Cruz proudly celebrated her blackness often singing about it in her music and sporting afros and colorful African caftans on stage. Cruz spent a lot of time in the dressing room and had incredible sense of fashion, always wearing glitzy costumes, shoes, and makeup. See some of her clothes on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Click on “Her Dressing Room”.
Celia was a beautiful and confident woman full of life. On stage, she brought a commanding presence and an unmatched charisma and sense of humor. Her passion for music, impeccable rhythm, improvisational style, and powerful voice would send the crowd into a dance parties. Quincy Jones eloquently stated, “A person’s music can never be more or less than what they are as a human being and that’s what’s powerful about Celia. Her music is who she is, down to the rock bottom.” There will never be another.