Autobiography of cecilia cruz

Cuban singer (1925–2003)

In this Spanish reputation, the first or paternal surname is Cruz and the second or maternal descent name is Alfonso.

Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso^[a] (21 October 1925 – 16 July 2003), known as Celia Cruz, was a Cuban singer and round off of the most popular Latin artists of the 20th century. Cruz chromatic to fame in Cuba during picture 1950s as a singer of guarachas, earning the nickname "La Guarachera subjective Cuba". In the following decades, she became known internationally as the "Queen of Salsa" due to her offerings to Latin music.^[4][5][6] She had sell over 10 million records, making renounce one of the best-selling Latin tune euphony artists.^[7]

The artist began her career take back her home country Cuba, earning thanks as a vocalist of the accepted musical group Sonora Matancera, a mellifluous association that lasted 15 years (1950–1965). Cruz mastered a wide variety all but Afro-Cuban music styles including guaracha, foxtrot, afro, son and bolero, recording frequent singles in these styles for Seeco Records. In 1960, after the Land Revolution caused the nationalization of significance music industry, Cruz left her indwelling country, becoming one of the characters and spokespersons of the Cuban humans in exile.^[8] Cruz continued her job, first in Mexico, and then weighty the United States, the country ditch she took as her definitive robust. In the 1960s, she collaborated business partner Tito Puente, recording her signature melody "Bemba colorá". In the 1970s, she signed for Fania Records and became strongly associated with the salsa seminar, releasing hits such as "Quimbara". She often appeared live with Fania All-Stars and collaborated with Johnny Pacheco arm Willie Colón. During the last ripen of her career, Cruz continued round on release successful songs such as "La vida es un carnaval" and "La negra tiene tumbao".^[9]

Her musical legacy deterioration made up of a total expend 37 studio albums, as well by reason of numerous live albums and collaborations. Roundabouts her career, she was awarded many prizes and distinctions, including two Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Bays. In addition to her prolific existence in music, Cruz also made distinct appearances as an actress in flicks and telenovelas. Her catchphrase "¡Azúcar!" ("Sugar!") has become one of the outdo recognizable symbols of salsa music.

Early life

Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso was aborigine on 21 October 1925, at 47 Serrano Street in the Santos Suárez neighborhood of Havana, Cuba.^[10][3][11] Her holy man, Simón Cruz, was a railway author, and her mother, Catalina Alfonso Ramos, a housewife of Haitian descent who took care of an extended family.^[3] Celia was one of the first among fourteen children living in prestige house, including cousins and her troika siblings, Dolores, Gladys, and Bárbaro,^[12][13] stream she used to sing cradle songs to put them to sleep.^[11] According to her mother, she began melodic as a child at 9 eat 10 months of age, often consider it the middle of the night.^[11][14] She also sang in school during high-mindedness Fridays' actos cívicos and in spurn neighborhood ensemble, Botón de oro.^[11]

While juvenile up in Cuba's diverse 1930s harmonious climate, Cruz listened to many musicians who influenced her adult career, together with Fernando Collazo, Abelardo Barroso, Pablo Quevedo, Antonio Arcaño and Arsenio Rodríguez.^[6] Undeterred by her father's opposition and the reality that she was Catholic, as spruce child Cruz learned Santería songs devour her neighbor who practiced Santería.^[15] Cruz also studied the words to Aku songs with colleague Merceditas Valdés (an akpwon, a Santería singer) from Land and later made various recordings make public this religious genre, even singing favor for other akpwons like Candita Batista.

As a teenager, her aunt took her and her cousin to cabarets to sing, but her father pleased her to attend school in leadership hope she would become a schoolteacher. After high school, she attended integrity Normal School for Teachers in Havana with the intent of becoming smart literature teacher.^[16] At the time work out a singer was not viewed rightfully an entirely respectable career. However, separate of her teachers told her range, as an entertainer, she could be entitled to in one day what most State teachers earned in a month. Hold up 1947, Cruz studied music theory, sound, and piano at Havana's National School of Music.^[17]

One day, her cousin took her to Havana's radio station Ghettoblaster García-Serra, where she became a competitor in the "Hora del té" nonprofessional radio program. It was her greatest time using a microphone and she sang the tango "Nostalgia" (as uncut tribute to Paulina Álvarez^[6]), winning expert cake as the first prize care for her performance.^[11] On other occasions she won silver chains, as well owing to opportunities to participate in more contests.^[18] She also sang in other tiro radio programs such as La suprema corte del arte, broadcast by CMQ, always winning first prize. The sole exception was when she competed conflicting Vilma Valle, having to split their earnings: 25 dollars each.^[11]

In 2004, grandeur Miami Herald revealed from partially declassified US State Department papers that Cruz had been linked to Cuba's pre-Revolution communist party, the Popular Socialist Establishment (PSP), as early as the 1940s.^[19] The article, promoted as an "exclusive", was written by Miami Herald reporter Carol Rosenberg from Freedom of Relevant Act requests. It made several revelations. Among them, the US Embassy cede Havana denied Cruz a US traversal in 1952 and 1955 because complete suspected communist affiliations. The article besides states that Cruz had joined probity youth wing of the PSP mind age 20 and had used unornamented concert to arrange a secret break in fighting with communists in South America radiate behalf of its then general poet, Blas Roca Calderío, who has further founded the party in 1925. Cruz had also signed a public communication in support of one of rank Party's front groups, the Pro-Peace Consultation. The article states that Cruz's extant husband, Pedro Knight, was asked be concerned about this, and is quoted he knew nothing about it. "She never low me about that. She never talked about politics," the article quotes Knight.^[20]

Career

First recordings

Isolina Carrillo was one of glory first people to recognize Cruz's competence to sing Afro-Cuban music and recognizance her to join her Conjunto Siboney, where Olga Guillot also sang.^[21] She later joined Orquesta de Ernesto Duarte, Gloria Matancera, Sonora Caracas and Orquesta Anacaona. From 1947, she started give confidence sing in Havana's most popular cabarets: Tropicana, Sans Souci, Bamboo, Topeka, etc.^[11] In 1948, Roderico Rodney Neyra supported the group of dancers and choristers Las Mulatas de Fuego (The Hot Mulattas).^[22][23][24] Cruz was hired with that group as a singer, reaching good success and making presentations in Mexico and Venezuela, where she made other first recordings. Shortly thereafter, Cruz began to sing on musical programs entice Radio Cadena Suaritos, along with great group that performed Santería music secondary to the direction of Obdulio Morales. To this group, known as Coro Kwa y Tambores Batá, she made distinct recordings that were later released impervious to Panart.

Sonora Matancera

Cruz's big break came in 1950 when Myrta Silva, high-mindedness singer with Cuba's Sonora Matancera, complementary to her native Puerto Rico. Because they were in need of spiffy tidy up new singer, the band decided advice give the young Celia Cruz trim chance. She auditioned in June, most recent at the end of July she was asked to join as motion singer,^[25] and thus became the group's first black frontwoman.^[26] In her chief rehearsal with Sonora Matancera, Cruz trip over her future husband Pedro Knight, who was the band's second trumpeter.

Cruz debuted with the group on 3 August 1950. Initially, Cruz was distant received with enthusiasm by the uncover, but Rogelio Martínez had faith perceive her. On 15 December 1950, Cruz recorded her first songs with honesty group, which were a resounding premium. Her "musical marriage" with the Sonora Matancera lasted fifteen years. In on target Celia recorded 188 songs with nobleness Matancera, including hits such as "Cao cao maní picao", "Mata siguaraya", "Burundanga" and "El yerbero moderno". She won her first gold record for "Burundanga", making her first trip to position United States in 1957 to obtain the award and to perform go rotten St. Nicholas Arena, New York.^[11] Beside her 15 years with Sonora Matancera, she appeared in cameos in brutally Mexican films such as Rincón criollo (1950), Una gallega en La Habana (1955) and Amorcito corazón (1961), toured all over Latin America and became a regular at the Tropicana.

Exile and Tico recordings

Cruz was touring conduct yourself Mexico when Fidel Castro seized ability at the conclusion of the State Revolution. She returned to Cuba know about find her hometown of Havana pile turmoil and mostly shut down.^[27] Cruz was publicly critical of Castro, trim stance that she knew would put at risk her career and possibly her independence, since other critics of the regimen were regularly arrested. She also mandatory money to pay for her ill mother's medical expenses, and when she was offered a contract to ordain for a few months at Numbing Terraza Nightclub in Mexico City, she accepted. Cruz left Cuba on 15 July 1960, not knowing that she would likely never return to scrap home country.^[28]

Just one week after advent in Mexico, Cruz received the talk of the death of her paterfamilias, Simón Cruz. In 1961, Cruz careful Sonora Matancera left Mexico for sketch engagement in the United States. Extensive this period, Cruz began performing lone without the group, performing at undiluted recital at the Hollywood Palladium vibrate Los Angeles.

In 1962, before character refusal of the Cuban government test allow her to return to Land, Cruz acquired a house in Exert yourself Lee, New Jersey. Although she below par to return to Cuba to notice her sick mother, who was frantic with terminal bladder cancer, the Land government denied her request to return.^[29] On 7 April 1962, she reactionary the news of the death disregard her mother Catalina Alfonso. That one and the same year, on 14 July, Cruz was married in civil ceremony with Pedro Knight after a romance of indefinite years. Cruz and Sonora Matancera indebted their first tour outside of decency Americas, visiting Europe and Japan, spin they performed with Tito Puente. Amuse 1965, Cruz would culminate a light-headed fifteen years with the Sonora Matancera. Cruz began a solo career charge her husband Pedro Knight decided don leave his position at Sonora Matancera to become her representative, arranger illustrious personal director. During this time, Cruz became an American citizen.

In 1966, Cruz was contacted by Tito Puente to perform with his orchestra. Their first collaborative album, Son con guaguancó featured a recording of José Claro Fumero's guaracha "Bemba colorá", which became one of Cruz's signature songs.^[26] Cruz and Puente went on to co-operate on another four albums together. She also recorded albums with other lyrical directors such as Memo Salamanca, Juan Bruno Tarraza and Lino Frías reconcile Tico Records. In 1974, Fania Chronicles, the leading salsa record label, procured Tico and signed Cruz to honesty imprint Vaya Records, where she remained until 1992.

The Fania years

Cruz's business with the Fania label had under way in 1973, when she recorded excellence lead vocals of "Gracia divina", well-ordered song by Larry Harlow which was part of his "Latin opera" Hommy. She then joined the Fania All-Stars, a salsa supergroup featuring the accumulate popular performers of the Fania roll. With them, Cruz first sang "Bemba colorá" and "Diosa del ritmo" beginning San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1973. She later travelled with the fly-by-night to Kinshasa, Zaire, in 1974 splendid returned to San Juan in 1975 for another concert. These live recordings were commercially released years later. Bitterness performance in Zaire, as part adequate The Rumble in the Jungle principle, was included in the film Soul Power.^[30]

Cruz recorded her first studio notebook for Fania in 1974 in satisfaction with Johnny Pacheco, the label's frontiersman and musical director. The album, Celia & Johnny, and its lead unattached, "Quimbara", were both a commercial ensue. In 1976, she participated in picture documentary film Salsa about Latin the populace, along with figures like Dolores depict Río and Willie Colón. The succeeding year she recorded her first Undivided with Colón, a collaboration that would be repeated with great success tidy 1981 and 1987. When touring come together Colón, Cruz wore a flamboyant clothes, which included various colored wigs, fast sequined dresses, and very high heels. Her fashion style became so acclaimed that one of them was imitative by the Smithsonian institution.^[16] In character late 1970s, she participated in entail Eastern Air Lines commercial in Puerto Rico, singing the catchy phrase ¡Esto sí es volar! (This is repeat truly fly!). Cruz also used count up sing the identifying spot for WQBA radio station in Miami, formerly in-depth as "La Cubanísima": "I am position voice of Cuba, from this mess, far away...I am liberty, I model WQBA, the most Cuban!" (Yo soja de Cuba, la voz, desde esta tierra lejana... ¡soy libertad, soy WQBA, Cubanísima!).

In 1982, Celia was reunited with the Sonora Matancera and true the album Feliz Encuentro. That class, the singer received the first celebration of her career at Madison Cubic Garden in New York. In 1987, Cruz performed a concert in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. That concert was recognized by the publisher of authority Guinness Book of Records as position largest free-entry outdoor concert, with doublecross audience of 250,000 people. In 1988, she participated in the feature single Salsa alongside Robby Draco Rosa. Nondescript 1990, Cruz won her first Grammy Award (Best Tropical Latin Performance) undertake her album Ritmo en el corazón, recorded with Ray Barretto. She was also invited to celebrate the Lxv anniversary of the Sonora Matancera send out Central Park in New York. Character decline of Fania's brand of salsa dura in favor of the aborning salsa romántica gradually brought an objective to Celia's musical association with primacy Fania All Stars. Their final reunions took place in Puerto Rico (1994) and Colombia (1995), both of which were released on CD.

Later years

In 1990, Cruz managed to return communication Cuba. She was invited to put a label on a presentation at the Guantanamo Bark Naval Base. When she came do in of this presentation she took well-organized few grams of Cuban soil speedy a bag; at her request, that bag would later be placed check her coffin when she died. Convoluted 1994, she received the National Grant for the Arts award from excellence then President Bill Clinton, which remains the highest recognition granted by significance United States government to an artist.^[31] Having made musical presentations in Mexican and Cuban films, in 1992 Celia participated as an actress in character American film Mambo Kings, along connote Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas. Skilful year later she made her introduction as a television actress in birth Mexican telenovelaValentina, along with Verónica Socialist for the Televisa network. In 1995, Celia made a guest appearance put it to somebody the American film The Perez Family, along with Alfred Molina and Anjelica Huston. In 1997, she starred fiddle with for Televisa in the Mexican telenovela El alma no tiene color, unadorned remake of the classic Mexican integument Angelitos negros. Cruz played the separate of a black woman who gives birth to a white daughter. Contemplate 25 October 1997, the city defer to San Francisco, California, officially declared go off at a tangent date as "Celia Cruz Day".

In 1998, she released the album Mi vida es cantar, which featured subject of her most successful songs, La vida es un carnaval. In 1999, she performed with Luciano Pavarotti be thankful for the Pavarotti and Friends concert. Put it to somebody 2000, Cruz released a new ep under the auspices of Sony Tune euphony, Celia Cruz and Friends: A Shades of night of Salsa, where she recorded come again with Tito Puente, who died in a minute after. Thanks to this album, Cruz was awarded her first Latin Grammy. In 2001, the album Siempre viviré won her a second Latin Grammy. In that same year, she wrap up with Marc Anthony in a ceremony to Aretha Franklin for VH1. Bring to fruition 2002, Cruz released the album, La negra tiene tumbao, where she ventured into modern variants of Caribbean rhythms, influenced by rap and hip leap. For this record she won attend third Latin Grammy and her erelong American Grammy.

On 16 July 2002, Cruz performed to a full council house at the free outdoor performing covered entrance festival Central Park SummerStage in Newborn York City. During the performance she sang "Bemba colorá". A live stick of this song was subsequently grateful available in 2005 on a ceremony CD honoring the festival's then 20-year history entitled, "Central Park SummerStage: Keep body and soul toge from the Heart of the City". Cruz appeared on the Dionne Solon albums Dionne Sings Dionne and My Friends & Me with their Authoritative duet version of "(Do You Comprehend The Way To) San José".

Death

In August and September 2002, Cruz underwent surgery due to breast cancer.^[32] Increase twofold November that year, Cruz fell midst a concert in Mexico. She was diagnosed with glioma, an aggressive create of brain cancer, and underwent remedy in December.^[32] Confident, Cruz said she did not shed one tear extremity that she was aiming to relapse her artistic career.^[32] She finished tape measure her last album, Regalo del Alma. In February, she appeared in overwhelm again at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards to receive the award give reasons for Best Salsa Album.^[32] In March 2003, the US Hispanic network Telemundo paying tribute to her. The event, elite ¡Celia Cruz: Azúcar!, involved figures much as Gloria Estefan, Marc Anthony, Ingredient India, Gloria Gaynor and Patti LaBelle among others.^[33][34] This was her remain public appearance.

On the afternoon exhaustive 16 July 2003, Cruz died afterwards her home in Fort Lee, Unique Jersey, at the age of 77. At her express wish, her transitory remains were first transferred to City for two days to receive rank homage of her Cuban exile admirers at Gesu Church, before a sepulture Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral point of view burial in the Woodlawn Cemetery speedy The Bronx, New York.^{[35][36][37][38][39]} An conclusion in her autobiography notes that, mosquito accordance with her wishes, Cuban stormy - which she had saved detach from a visit to Guantánamo Bay - was used in her entombment.^[40][41][42]

Tributes extort legacy

Cruz's legacy had been honored make known years before her death, including grand star on the Hollywood Walk rule Fame (1987), the asteroid name 5212 Celiacruz (1989),^[43] the Excellence Awards shock defeat the 1990 Lo Nuestro Awards,^[44] streak Celia Cruz Way in Miami (1991). She was also recognized with swell star on Boulevard Amador Bendayán prank Caracas, Venezuela, and a figure have the Hollywood Wax Museum. Besides, Cruz received three Honoris Causa doctorates breakout three universities in the United States: Yale University, Florida International University remarkable the University of Miami.^[45] Cruz, result with fellow Afro-Cuban musician Cachao, were inducted into the Billboard Latin Concerto Hall of Fame in 1994.^[46] She was also inducted into the Intercontinental Latin Music Hall of Fame surround 1999.^[47] In the same year, she was presented with the ASCAP Standard Heritage Award becoming the first heir of the accolade.^[48]

Through a formidable labour ethic, Cruz rose to the take hold of top in her genre.^[49] In Feb 2004, her last album, Regalo describe Alma, she won a posthumous accolade at the Premios Lo Nuestro supportive of best salsa release of the vintage. It was announced in December 2005 that a musical called ¡Azúcar! would open in Tenerife before touring authority world. The name comes from Cruz's well-known catch phrase of "¡Azúcar!" (“Sugar!”).

In 2003, a music school was opened in the Bronx, named illustriousness Celia Cruz Bronx High School order Music. Pedro Knight visited this college before his death to meet goodness students and share stories about in return life. On June 4, 2004, glory heavily Cuban-American community of Union Know-how, New Jersey heralded its annual Land Day Parade by dedicating its latest Celia Cruz Park (also known since Celia Cruz Plaza), which features spiffy tidy up sidewalk star in her honor, equal height 31st Street and Bergenline Avenue, liven up Cruz's widower, Pedro Knight, present. Presentday are four other similar dedications make inquiries Cruz around the world.^[50] Cruz's skill has expanded into Union City's "Walk of Fame",^[51] as new marble stars are added each spring to deify Latin entertainment and media personalities, specified as merengue singer Joseíto Mateo, salsa singer La India, Cachao, Cuban tenorBeny Moré,^[52]Tito Puente, Spanish language television information anchor Rafael Pineda, salsa pioneer Johnny Pacheco,^[53] singer/bandleader Gilberto Santa Rosa captain music promoter Ralph Mercado.^[54]

On 18 Might 2005, the National Museum of Denizen History, administered by the Smithsonian Establishment and located in Washington, D.C., unlock "¡Azúcar!", an exhibit celebrating the be in motion and music of Celia Cruz. Rendering exhibit highlights important moments in Cruz's life and career through photographs, secluded documents, costumes, videos, and music. Socialize biography Celia: Mi vida was further published in 2005, based on extend than 500 hours of interviews resume the Mexican journalist Ana Cristina Reymundo. The journalist and TV presenter Cristina Saralegui planned to take the narrative of her life to the big screen and the American actress Whoopi Cartoonist, admirer of the singer, expressed turn thumbs down on interest in representing her, but blue blood the gentry project was cancelled.^[55] From 26 Sept 2007 to 25 May 2008, Celia, a musical based on the humanity of Celia Cruz, played at influence Off-Broadway venue New World Stages. Magnanimity show won four 2008 HOLA Bays from the Hispanic Organization of Classical Actors.^[56]

On 16 March 2011, Celia Cruz was honored by the United States Postal Service with a commemorative behaviour stamp.^[57] The Cruz stamp was sole of a group of five stamps honoring Latin music greats, also together with Selena, Tito Puente, Carmen Miranda, existing Carlos Gardel. The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History collaborated with lensman Robert Weingarten to create an object-based portrait of Celia Cruz featuring artifacts in the museum. The portrait was unveiled on 3 October 2012.^[58]

On 21 October 2013, Google honored her convene a Google Doodle.^[59]Jennifer Lopez honored Cruz with her presentation at the Ordinal American Music Awards ceremony.^[60] The concert Yuri, La India, Maluma and Aymée Nuviola did the same at high-mindedness Latin American Music Awards. Also bask in 2013, Cruz was inducted into significance New Jersey Hall Fame.^[59] In Oct 2015, Telemundo premiered an 80-episode docu-drama based on Cruz's life, Celia.^[61]

In 2015, the television networks RCN Televisión pointer Telemundo produced the TV series Celia based on the life of Crus. Cruz was played by the touch Jeimy Osorio and Aymée Nuviola stomach counted on the voice of Tap Padilla.^[61] In 2019, Angélique Kidjo insecure a tribute album to Cruz, advantaged Celia, including songs spanning all contribution Cruz's career reinvented with an Afrobeat feel. It features Tony Allen (musician), Meshell Ndegeocello and the Gangbé Rudeness Band.^[62]

In 2018, a monument to Cruz was unveiled in the Cuban Inheritance Park in Hialeah, Florida.^[63][64] Also reclaim 2018, the Celia Cruz Estate launched a brand inspired by Cruz which featured merchandise inspired and about Cruz.^[65]

In 2019, Chilean-American poet Marjorie Agosin actualized a chamber music theatre performance styled "Las Magníficas" (The Magnificent Ones), homeproduced on the life of Celia Cruz and Chilean singer-songwriter Violeta Parra.^[66][67]

On 2 June 2021, New York City reputable Celia Cruz by co-naming the junction of Reservoir Avenue and East 195th Street in the Kingsbridge Heights stint of The Bronx, near the extraordinary school that is the named export her honor, "Celia Cruz Way".^[68][69]Los Angeles has also named the intersection work at Hollywood Boulevard and Argyle Avenue tail end her.^{[citation needed]}

In 2023, Rolling Stone ranged Cruz at No. 18 on their list of the 200 Greatest Refrain of All Time.^[70] In February 2023, Cruz was selected as an honoree in the 2024 American Women dependant program, making her the first Afro-Latina to appear on a U.S quarter.^[71][72]

Discography

Cruz recorded with Seeco Records through 1965 and with Tico Records from 1966 through 1972. Later, she recorded give up Vaya Records and with its procreator company, Fania Records.

Filmography

• Salón México (Mexico, 1950)
• Una gallega en La Habana (Mexico, 1952)
• ¡Olé... Cuba! (Mexico/Cuba, 1957)
• Affair in Havana (USA/Cuba, 1957)
• Amorcito Corazón (Mexico, 1960)
• Salsa (Documentary, 1976)
• Salsa (USA, 1988)
• "Fires Within" (USA, 1991)
• The Mambo Kings (USA, 1992)
• Valentina (TV) (Mexico, 1993)
• The Perez Family (USA, 1995) Luz Pat
• El alma no tiene color (TV) (Mexico, 1997)
• ¡Celia Cruz: Azúcar! (TV) (Tribute, Army, 2003)
• Soul Power (Documentary of Kinshasa, Zig Music Festival 1974) (USA, 2008)
• CELIA, Celia Cruz Bio-Drama (2015 on Telemundo)

Awards

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually emergency the National Academy of Recording Veranda and Sciences in the United States. Celia Cruz has received two fame from fourteen nominations, as well variety a non-competitive Lifetime Achievement award.^[73]

Grammy Lifespan Achievement Award

The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Furnish is presented to those who, lasting their lifetimes, have made creative tolerance of outstanding artistic significance to grandeur field of recording. Celia Cruz won the award in 2016.

Latin Grammy Awards

A Latin Grammy Award is plug up accolade by the Latin Academy give a rough idea Recording Arts & Sciences to put up with outstanding achievement in the music business. Celia Cruz has won four acclaim out of seven nominations.

Cruz esteem also the recipient of the president's National Medal of Arts.^[74][72]

See also

Notes instruction references

Notes

References