Celia Cruz

Name at birth:  Celia Cruz
Date of birth: 21 October 1929. (died 2003)
Place of birth: Havana, Cuba
 

Celia Cruz is often referred to as the “The Queen of Salsa”, being one of the most respected vocalist of Latin music. Cruz intended to be a teacher, but a talent show changed her life. She joined the Sonora Matancera, Cuba’s most popular ensemble in 1950. Cruz remained with the group for more than 10 years touring throughout the World. She went on to marry the band's trumpet player Pedro Knight on July 14, 1962.

When looking back at her rich life and career during an interview in 1997, Cruz said: "I have fulfilled my father's wish to be a teacher as, through my music, I teach generations of people about my culture and the happiness that is found in just living life. As a performer, I want people to feel their hearts sing and their spirits soar."   

Celia Cruz was nominated 10 times for a Grammy Award. She had a music career spanning over six-decades with more than 70 recordings. Over the years, Cruz has collaborated with the best in Latin music, including Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Emilio Estefan, Willie Chirino, Patti LaBelle, and David Byrne.

1947-1950 She studied music theory and piano at the National Conservatory of Music in Havana
1950    She joined the group Sonora Matancera and played in Tropicana Night Club, in the most famous Club in Havana.
1960    After Cuba’s revolution of 1959 she emigrated to the U.S.
1962    She left the group Sonor Matancera and Pedro Knight became her manager
‘60s    She released more then 20 albums in the U.S., including 7 with Tito Puente
1990    Best Tropical Latin Performance Grammy Award for “Ritmo en el Corazón”
1992    She starred with Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas in the movie “The Mambo Kings”
1994    President Bill Clinton gave Cruz the “National Medal of Arts”
2000    Best Salsa Performance Grammy Award for “Celia Cruz and Friends: A night of Salsa”
2001    Grammy Award Best Tropical Traditional Album for “Siempre Viviré” (I will survive)
2002    Grammy Award Best Salsa Album: La Negra Tiene Tumbao
2003    Two Grammy Awards in categories of Best Salsa Album and Best salsa/merengue album
2003    She died of a cancerous brain tumour on July 16 at her home in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Pedro Night, her husband died in 2007.

Discography:
2003     Homenaje a Beny Moré
2003     Celia & Johnny
2003     Dios Disfrute a la Reina
2003     Son Boleros, Boleros Son
2003     Reina de la Música Cubana
2003     Regalo del Alma
2003    Más Grande Historia Jamás Cantada
2003     Estrellas de la Sonora Matancera
2003     Celia in the House: Classic Hits Remixed
2003     Carnaval de la Vida
2003     Candela Pura
2002     Unrepeatable
2002     Hits Mix
2001     La Negra Tiene Tumbao
2000     Siempre Viviré
2000     Salsa
2000     Habanera
2000     Celia Cruz and Friends: A Night of Salsa
1999     En Vivo Radio Progreso, Vol. 3
1999     En Vivo Radio Progreso, Vol. 2
1999     En Vivo Radio Progreso, Vol. 1
1999     En Vivo C.M.Q., Vol. 5
1999     En Vivo C.M.Q., Vol. 4
1998     Mi Vida Es Cantar
1998     Afro-Cubana
1997     También Boleros
1997     Duets
1997     Cambiando Ritmos
1996     Celia Cruz Delta
1995     Irresistible
1995     Festejando Navidad
1995     Double Dynamite
1995     Cuba's Queen of Rhythm
1994     Merengue Saludos Amigos
1994     Mambo del Amor
1994     Irrepetible
1994     Homenaje a Los Santos
1994     Guaracheras de La Guaracha
1993     Introducing
1993     Homenaje a Beny Moré, Vol. 3
1993     Boleros Polydor
1993     Azucar Negra
1992     Verdadera Historia
1992     Tributo a Ismael Rivera
1991     Reina del Ritmo Cubano
1991     Canta Celia Cruz
1990     Guarachera del Mundo
1988     Ritmo en el Corazón
1987     Winners
1986     De Nuevo
1986     Candela
1983     Tremendo Trío
1982     Feliz Encuentro
1981     Celia & Willie
1980     Celia/Johnny/Pete
1977     Only They Could Have Made This Album
1976     Recordando El Ayer
1975     Tremendo Caché
1974     Celia & Johnny
1971     Celia Y Tito Puente en España
1970     Etc. Etc. Etc.
1969     Quimbo Quimbumbia
1968     Serenata Guajira
1968     Excitante
1967     A Ti México
1967     Bravo Celia Cruz
1966     Son con Guaguancó
1966     Cuba Y Puerto Rico Son
1965     Sabor y Ritmo de Pueblos
1965     Canciones Premiadas
1959     Mi Diario Musical
1958     Incomparable Celia
 

by Zsuzsa Melkvi
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About the Author: Zsuzsa Melkvi is a salsa dancer and teacher, having competed in Latin-American and Standard dances from 1995-1998. She is also the founder of Baila Cuba (www.bailacuba.hu), a Dance company focused on giving exclusively pure Afro-Cuban workshops in Hungary. Zsuzsa holds a BA degree in Economics from the University of Hertfordshire.