Celia Cruz

CELIA CRUZ

October 21, 1925 - July 15, 2003 Celia Cruz was born in Havana, Cuba in 1925. She was an Afro-Cuban-American. Her parents were Catalina Alfonso and Simon Cruz. She was one of the most successful Cuban performers, with 23 gold albums. Celia wasn’t going to be a singer, her father’s wishes was for her to be a teacher. She first started singing in a strip bar in South America for a radio station. Celia’s first recording was in 1948 in Venezuela. In 1950 was her major breakthrough, she was the lead singer of the Sonora Mantancera. She became known for her trademark shout “Azucar!” During the 1980’s she made many tours, doing many concerts and television shows wherever she went. Celia won a Grammy Award in 1990 for Best Tropical Latin Performance. Cruz recorded over 70 albums. Having lighted the stage for over four decades, she now lays in peace in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx. I greatly admire Celia because wherever she went she brought life and a big smile. She made so many people because she was always so vibrant and happy. Her music and her “Azucar” puts a smile to my face. I like the way she made her music hers – she composed her own lyrics and expressed her feelings as a woman – I would definitely consider her a strong woman. I know that there are many Cuban musicians, but her music was the best. After all these years I can still sing to one of her songs called Carnaval, I love it.

Marlene Contreras