Celia Cruz
| Celia Cruz | |
|---|---|
 Celia Cruz in Paris, France, April 1980 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso |
| Also known as | La Reina de la Salsa, La Guarachera de Cuba |
| Born | October 21, 1925 Havana, Cuba |
| Died | July 16, 2003 (aged 77) Fort Lee, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | Salsa, Bolero, Cha-cha-cha |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Years active | 1948–2003 |
| Labels | Fania Records, RMM Records & Video, Sony Discos |
| Associated acts | Sonora Matancera, Fania All-Stars |
| Website | Official website |
Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso de la Santísima Trinidad (October 21, 1925 – July 16, 2003) was a Cuban-American salsa performer. One of the most popular salsa artists of the 20th century, she earned twenty-three gold albums and was renowned internationally as the "Queen of Salsa" as well as "La Guarachera de Cuba."[1]
She spent much of her career living in New Jersey, and working in the United States and several Latin American countries. Leila Cobo of Billboard Magazine once said "Cruz is indisputably the best known and most influential female figure in the history of Cuban music."
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Early life
Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso was born on October 21, 1925[1][2] in the diverse, working-class neighborhood of Santos Suárez in Havana, Cuba, the second of four children. Her father, Simon Cruz, was a railroad stoker and her mother, Catalina Alfonso (Ollita) was a homemaker who took care of an extended family of fourteen.[1][3]
While growing up in Cuba's diverse 1930s musica climate, Cruz listened to many musicians who influenced her adult career, including Fernando Collazo, Abelardo Barroso, Pablo Quevedo and Arsenio Rodríguez. Cruz also studied the words to Yoruba songs with colleague Mercedita Valdes (an Akpwon santeria singer) from Cuba and Celia made various recordings of this religious genre singing even back up for other female akpwons like Candita Batista.[4]
When she was a teenager, her aunt took her and her cousin to cabarets to sing, but her father encouraged her to keep attending school, in hopes that she would become a Spanish language teacher. However, one of her teachers told her that as an entertainer she could earn in one day what most Cuban teachers earned in a month. Cruz began singing in Havana's radio station Radio Garcia-Serra's popular "Hora del Té" daily broadcast, she sang the tango "Nostalgias" (and won a cake as first place) often winning cakes and also opportunities to participate in more contests. Her first recordings were made in 1948 in Venezuela.[citation needed]
Career
In 1950, Cruz made her first major breakthrough, after the lead singer of the Sonora Matancera, a renowned Cuban orchestra, left the group and Cruz was called to fill in. Cruz was hired permanently by the orchestra, but she wasn't well accepted by the public at first. However, the orchestra stood by their decision, and soon Cruz became famous throughout Cuba. During the 15 years she was a member, the band traveled all over Latin America, becoming known as "Café Con Leche" (coffee with milk). Cruz became known for her trademark shout "¡Azúcar!" ("Sugar!" in Spanish). The catch phrase started as the punch line for a joke Cruz used to tell frequently at her concerts. Once, she ordered cafe cubano (Cuban coffee) in a restaurant in Miami. The waiter asked her if she'd like sugar, and she replied that, since he was Cuban, he should know that you can't drink Cuban coffee without it! After having told the joke so many times, Cruz eventually dropped the joke and greeted her audience at the start of her appearances with the punch line alone. In her later years, she would use the punch line a few times, to later say: "No les digo más 'Azúcar', pa' que no les dé diabetes!" which means "I won't say 'Sugar' anymore so that you won't get diabetes".[citation needed]
With the Sonora Matancera, she realized cameos in some Mexican films like Salon México (1950) and Una gallega en La Habana (1952).
With Fidel Castro assuming control of Cuba in 1959, Cruz and her husband, Pedro Knight, refused to return to their homeland and became citizens of the United States. In 1966, Cruz and Tito Puente began an association that would lead to eight albums for Tico Records. The albums were not as successful as expected. However, Puente and Cruz later joined the Vaya Records label. There, she joined accomplished pianist Larry Harlow and was soon headlining a concert at New York's Carnegie Hall.
Cruz's 1974 album with Johnny Pacheco, Celia y Johnny, was very successful, and Cruz soon found herself in a group named the Fania All-Stars, which was an ensemble of salsa musicians from every orchestra signed by the Fania label (owner of Vaya Records). With the Fania All-Stars, Cruz had the opportunity of visiting England, France, Zaire (Today's DR Congo), and to return to tour Latin America; her performance in Zaire is included in the film Soul Power.[5] In the late 1970s, she participated in an Eastern Air Lines commercial in Puerto Rico, singing the catchy phrase ¡Esto sí es volar! (This really is flying!).
In 1976, she participates in a documental film Salsa about the Latin cultura, along with figures like Dolores del Río and Willie Colon.[6]
Celia Cruz used to sing the identifying spot for WQBA radio station in Miami, formerly known as "La Cubanísima": "I am the voice of Cuba, from this land, far away,..., I am liberty, I am WQBA, the most Cuban! (Yo soy de Cuba, la voz, desde esta tierra lejana, ..., soy libertad, soy WQBA, Cubanísima!) During the 1980s, Cruz made many tours in Latin America and Europe, doing multiple concerts and television shows wherever she went, and singing both with younger stars and stars of her own era. She began a crossover of sorts, when she participated in the 1988 feature film Salsa, alongside Robby Draco Rosa.
In 1990, Cruz won a Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Performance - Ray Barretto & Celia Cruz - Ritmo en el Corazon. She later recorded an anniversary album with la Sonora Matancera. In 1992, she starred with Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas in the film The Mambo Kings. In 1994, President Bill Clinton awarded Cruz the National Medal of Arts. In 2001, she recorded a new album, on which Johnny Pacheco was one of the producers.
On July 16, 2002, Cruz performed to a full house at the free outdoor performing arts festival Central Park SummerStage in New York City. During the performance she sang, "Bemba Colora." A live recording of this song was subsequently made available in 2005 on a commemorative CD honoring the festival's then 20 year history entitled, "Central Park SummerStage: Live from the Heart of the City". Cruz appeared on the 2006 Dionne Warwick album My Friends & Me.
Death
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This section does not cite any references or sources. (July 2012) |
On July 16, 2003, Cruz died of brain cancer[7][8][9] at her home in Fort Lee, New Jersey, at the age of 77. Her husband, Pedro Knight (died February 3, 2007), was there for her while she was going through cancer treatments. She had no children. After her death, her body was taken to lie in state in Miami's Freedom Tower, where more than 200,000 fans paid their final respects. Her body was returned to New Jersey where tens of thousands of fans paid tribute to her at the funeral home. A service was held for her in St. Patrick's Cathedral. She was interred in a private mausoleum at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx. An epilogue in her autobiography notes that, in accordance with her wishes, Cuban soil which she had saved from a visit to Guantánamo Bay was used in her entombment.
Legacy
In February 2004, her last album, Regalo del Alma, won a posthumous award at the Premios Lo Nuestro for best Salsa release of the year. It was announced in December 2005 that a musical called "Assuca" would open in Tenerife before touring the world. The name comes from Cruz's well-known catch phrase of "¡Azúcar!"
On June 4, 2004, the heavily Cuban-American community of Union City, New Jersey heralded its annual Cuban Day Parade by dedicating its new Celia Cruz Park (also known as Celia Cruz Plaza), which features a sidewalk star in her honor, at 31st Street and Bergenline Avenue, with Cruz's widower, Pedro Knight, present. There are four other similar dedications to Cruz around the world.[10] Cruz's star has expanded into Union City's "Walk of Fame",[11] as new marble stars are added each spring to honor Latin entertainment and media personalities, such as merengue singer Joseíto Mateo, salsa singer La India, Cuban musician Israel "Cachao" Lopez, Cuban tenor Beny Moré,[12] Tito Puente, Spanish language television news anchor Rafael Pineda, salsa pioneer Johnny Pacheco,[13] singer/bandleader Gilberto Santa Rosa and music promoter Ralph Mercado.[14]
On May 18, 2005, the National Museum of American History, administered by the Smithsonian Institution and located in Washington, D.C., opened "¡Azúcar!", an exhibit celebrating the life and music of Celia Cruz. The exhibit highlights important moments in Cruz's life and career through photographs, personal documents, costumes, videos, and music.
On September 26, 2007, through May 25, 2008, Celia, a musical based on the life of Celia Cruz, played at the off-Broadway venue, New World Stages. Some performances were in Spanish and some in English. The show won four 2008 HOLA awards from the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors.[15]
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History collaborated with photographer Robert Weingarten to create an object-based portrait of Celia Cruz featuring artifacts in the museum. The portrait was unveiled October 3, 2012.[16]
Discography
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Filmography
- Salón México (México, 1950)
- Una gallega en La Habana (México, 1952)
- Salsa (Documental, 1976)
- Mambo Kings (USA, 1992)
- Valentina (TV) (México, 1993)
- El alma no tiene color (TV) (México, 1997)
- Celia Cruz: ¡Azucar! (TV) (Tribute, USA, 2003)
Grammy Awards
| Year | Recipient | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | "Ritmo En El Corazon" | Best Tropical Latin Performance | Won |
| 2000 | Celia Cruz and Friends: A Night of Salsa | Best Salsa Performance | Won |
| 2001 | "Siempre Viviré" | Best Tropical Traditional Album | Won |
| 2002 | La Negra Tiene Tumbao | Best Salsa Album | Won |
| 2003 | La Negra Tiene Tumbao | Best Salsa Album | Won |
| 2003 | Regalo del Alma | Best Salsa/Merengue Album | Won |
| 2004 | Regalo del Alma | Best Salsa Album | Won |
References
- ^ a b c "Celia Cruz's Shoes". National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
- ^ Some sources indicate she was born in 1924, but her gravestone clearly states 1925.
- ^ Cobo, Leila. "Cuban Salsa Sensation Celia Cruz Dies At 77". All Business. July 26, 2003
- ^ "¡Azúcar! The Life and Music of Celia Cruz". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2007-11-04.
- ^ Scott, O.A. (2009-07-10). "Music and Musicians Still Echo 35 Years Later". New York Times.
- ^ Ficha de Salsa en Internet Movie Database
- ^ Ellen Pearlman (April 1, 2008). "Azucar! Celia: The Life and Music of Celia Cruz at the New World Theater". The Brooklyn Rail.
- ^ Townsend Rosa; Vicent, Manuel (July 18, 2003). "La muerte de Celia Cruz consterna al exilio cubano y a los artistas de la isla". EDICIONES EL PAÍS, S.L. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
- ^ "¡Azúcar en el cielo!". El Diario de Hoy. July 17, 2003.
- ^ Homage to Celia Cruz: UC to pay tribute to Queen of Salsa with events, park dedication, Union City Reporter, May 30, 2004
- ^ Lucio Fernandez and Gerard Karabin. Union City in Pictures; 2010; Page 74
- ^ Rosero, Jessica. "Viva la comunidad Cubano North Hudson celebrates at the annual Cuban Day Parade" Hudson Reporter June 18, 2006
- ^ Rosero, Jessica. "'La vida es un carnaval' North Hudson celebrates 6th annual Cuban Day Parade"; Hudson Reporter; May 26, 2006
- ^ Staab, Amanda. "UC first stop for Latin Grammies" The Union City Reporter; October 5, 2008; Pages 1 & 21
- ^ Celia at Lortel Archives; accessed August 24, 2010
- ^ "National Museum of American History Reveals Celia Cruz Portrait". Newsdesk. Smithsonian Institution. October 3, 2012
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Celia Cruz |
- Official website
- Celia Cruz discography at Discogs
- Celia Cruz's Discography (album covers) at Florida International University archives
- Celia Cruz's Discography (recordings) at Florida International University archives
- Celia Cruz videos
- Celia Cruz at the Internet Movie Database.
- Celia Cruz at Findagrave.com
- ¡Azúcar! The Life and Music of Celia Cruz at the National Museum of American History.
- In May 2011, the VOA Special English service of the Voice of America broadcast a 15-minute program on Celia Cruz. A transcript and MP3 of the program, intended for English learners, can be found at Celia Cruz, 1925-2003: 'The Queen of Salsa'
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- 1925 births
- 2003 deaths
- People from Havana
- American female singers
- American entertainers of Cuban descent
- Cancer deaths in New Jersey
- Cuban female singers
- Cuban emigrants to the United States
- Deaths from brain tumor
- Fania Records artists
- Grammy Award-winning artists
- Latin Grammy Award winners
- Naturalized citizens of the United States
- Salsa musicians
- Spanish-language singers of the United States
- United States National Medal of Arts recipients
- Burials at Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx)
- People from Fort Lee, New Jersey
