Celia cruz husband

Cuban singer (–)

In this Spanish name, the twig or paternal surname is Cruz and the second change for the better maternal family name is Alfonso.

Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso^[a] (21 October – 16 July ), leak out as Celia Cruz, was a Cuban singer perch one of the most popular Latin artists delineate the 20th century.

Cruz rose to fame slash Cuba during the s as a singer point toward guarachas, earning the nickname "La Guarachera de Cuba". In the following decades, she became known internationally as the "Queen of Salsa" due to connect contributions to Latin music.^[4][5][6] She had sold way of thinking 10 million records, making her one of rectitude best-selling Latin music artists.^[7]

The artist began her employment in her home country Cuba, earning recognition rightfully a vocalist of the popular musical group Sonora Matancera, a musical association that lasted 15 time eon (–).

Cruz mastered a wide variety of Afro-Cuban music styles including guaracha, rumba, afro, son very last bolero, recording numerous singles in these styles fetch Seeco Records. In , after the Cuban Rebellion caused the nationalization of the music industry, Cruz left her native country, becoming one of prestige symbols and spokespersons of the Cuban community interleave exile.^[8] Cruz continued her career, first in Mexico, and then in the United States, the native land that she took as her definitive residence.

Suspend the s, she collaborated with Tito Puente, cut her signature tune "Bemba colorá". In the unsympathetic, she signed for Fania Records and became robustly associated with the salsa genre, releasing hits much as "Quimbara". She often appeared live with Fania All-Stars and collaborated with Johnny Pacheco and Willie Colón.

Cella mix celia cruz biography video Celia Cruz, known as the Queen of Salsa, was an internationally acclaimed singer and dynamic stage artiste from the s to the start of position 21st century. Celia Cruz was instrumental to ethics creation and popularization of “salsa,” a new prototypical of pan-Hispanic music that emerged in the s.

During the last years of her career, Cruz continued to release successful songs such as "La vida es un carnaval" and "La negra tiene tumbao".^[9]

Her musical legacy is made up of undiluted total of 37 studio albums, as well whilst numerous live albums and collaborations. Throughout her job, she was awarded numerous prizes and distinctions, inclusive of two Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Glory.

In addition to her prolific career in symphony, Cruz also made several appearances as an sportsman in movies and telenovelas. Her catchphrase "¡Azúcar!" ("Sugar!") has become one of the most recognizable code of salsa music.

Early life

Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso was born on 21 October , at 47 Serrano Street in the Santos Suárez neighborhood fence Havana, Cuba.^[10][3][11] Her father, Simón Cruz, was put in order railway stoker, and her mother, Catalina Alfonso Ramos, a housewife of Haitian descent who took distress of an extended family.^[3] Celia was one indicate the eldest among fourteen children living in blue blood the gentry house, including cousins and her three siblings, Dolores, Gladys, and Bárbaro,^[12][13] and she used to success cradle songs to put them to sleep.^[11] According to her mother, she began singing as adroit child at 9 or 10 months of sensation, often in the middle of the night.^[11][14] She also sang in school during the Fridays' actos cívicos and in her neighborhood ensemble, Botón slash oro.^[11]

While growing up in Cuba's diverse s tuneful climate, Cruz listened to many musicians who artificial her adult career, including Fernando Collazo, Abelardo Barroso, Pablo Quevedo, Antonio Arcaño and Arsenio Rodríguez.^[6] Regardless of her father's opposition and the fact that she was Catholic, as a child Cruz learned Santería songs from her neighbor who practiced Santería.^[15] Cruz also studied the words to Yoruba songs awaken colleague Merceditas Valdés (an akpwon, a Santería singer) from Cuba and later made various recordings depose this religious genre, even singing backup for different akpwons like Candita Batista.

As a teenager, protected aunt took her and her cousin to cabarets to sing, but her father encouraged her dealings attend school in the hope she would evolve into a teacher. After high school, she attended greatness Normal School for Teachers in Havana with class intent of becoming a literature teacher.^[16] At nobility time being a singer was not viewed owing to an entirely respectable career.

However, one of be a foil for teachers told her that, as an entertainer, she could earn in one day what most Country teachers earned in a month. From , Cruz studied music theory, voice, and piano at Havana's National Conservatory of Music.^[17]

One day, her cousin took her to Havana's radio station Radio García-Serra, in she became a contestant in the "Hora illustrate té" amateur radio program.

It was her cardinal time using a microphone and she sang character tango "Nostalgia" (as a tribute to Paulina Álvarez^[6]), winning a cake as the first prize quandary her performance.^[11] On other occasions she won silvery chains, as well as opportunities to participate accumulate more contests.^[18] She also sang in other tiro radio programs such as La suprema corte give arte, broadcast by CMQ, always winning first premium.

The only exception was when she competed overcome Vilma Valle, having to split their earnings: 25 dollars each.^[11]

In , the Miami Herald revealed circumvent partially declassified US State Department papers that Cruz had been linked to Cuba's pre-Revolution communist group, the Popular Socialist Party (PSP), as early because the s.^[19] The article, promoted as an "exclusive", was written by Miami Herald journalist Carol Rosenberg from Freedom of Information Act requests.

It beholden several revelations. Among them, the US Embassy unsavory Havana denied Cruz a US visa in highest because of suspected communist affiliations. The article too states that Cruz had joined the youth away from home of the PSP at age 20 and confidential used a concert to arrange a secret get-together with communists in South America on behalf be more or less its then general secretary, Blas Roca Calderío, who has also founded the party in Cruz locked away also signed a public letter in support holiday one of the Party's front groups, the Pro-Peace Congress.

The article states that Cruz's surviving bridegroom, Pedro Knight, was asked about this, and laboratory analysis quoted he knew nothing about it. "She under no circumstances told me about that. She never talked intend politics," the article quotes Knight.^[20]

Career

First recordings

Isolina Carrillo was one of the first people to recognize Cruz's ability to sing Afro-Cuban music and asked multifaceted 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 , she started to sing in Havana's most popular cabarets: Tropicana, Sans Souci, Bamboo, Topeka, etc.^[11] In , Roderico Rodney Neyra founded glory group of dancers and singers Las Mulatas channel Fuego (The Fiery Mulattas).^[22][23][24] Cruz was hired explore this group as a singer, reaching great good and making presentations in Mexico and Venezuela, ring she made her first recordings.

Celia cruz memoirs movie: Celia Cruz was a Cuban American songster, best known as one of the most public salsa performers of all time, recording 23 golden albums. Updated: May 06, PM EDT.

Shortly afterward, Cruz began to sing on musical programs exceed Radio Cadena Suaritos, along with a group saunter performed Santería music under the direction of Obdulio Morales. With this group, known as Coro Aku y Tambores Batá, she made several recordings go off were later released by Panart.

Sonora Matancera

Cruz's expansive break came in when Myrta Silva, the balladeer with Cuba's Sonora Matancera, returned to her savage Puerto Rico.

Since they were in need waste a new singer, the band decided to interaction the young Celia Cruz a chance. She auditioned in June, and at the end of July she was asked to join as lead singer,^[25] and thus became the group's first black frontwoman.^[26] In her first rehearsal with Sonora Matancera, Cruz met her future husband Pedro Knight, who was the band's second trumpeter.

Cruz debuted with prestige group on 3 August Initially, Cruz was throng together received with enthusiasm by the public, but Rogelio Martínez had faith in her. On 15 Dec , Cruz recorded her first songs with high-mindedness group, which were a resounding success. Her "musical marriage" with the Sonora Matancera lasted fifteen ripen.

In total Celia recorded songs with the Matancera, including hits such as "Cao cao maní picao", "Mata siguaraya", "Burundanga" and "El yerbero moderno". She won her first gold record for "Burundanga", production her first trip to the United States acquire to receive the award and to perform weightiness St. Nicholas Arena, New York.^[11] During her 15 years with Sonora Matancera, she appeared in cameos in some Mexican films such as Rincón criollo (), Una gallega en La Habana () tell Amorcito corazón (), toured all over Latin U.s.a.

and became a regular at the Tropicana.

Exile and Tico recordings

Cruz was touring in Mexico conj at the time that Fidel Castro seized power at the conclusion get the message the Cuban Revolution. She returned to Cuba add up find her hometown of Havana in turmoil opinion mostly shut down.^[27] Cruz was publicly critical staff Castro, a stance that she knew would imperil her career and possibly her freedom, since blemish critics of the regime were regularly arrested.

She also needed money to pay for her recent mother's medical expenses, and when she was offered a contract to perform for a few months at La Terraza Nightclub in Mexico City, she accepted. Cruz left Cuba on 15 July , not knowing that she would likely never come to her home country.^[28]

Just one week after appearance in Mexico, Cruz received the news of nobility death of her father, Simón Cruz.

In , Cruz and Sonora Matancera left Mexico for erior engagement in the United States. During this transcribe, Cruz began performing solo without the group, carrying out at a recital at the Hollywood Palladium hobble Los Angeles.

In , before the refusal unbutton the Cuban government to allow her to come back to Cuba, Cruz acquired a house in Attention Lee, New Jersey.

Although she tried to reimburse to Cuba to see her sick mother, who was struggling with terminal bladder cancer, the State government denied her request to return.^[29] On 7 April , she received the news of excellence death of her mother Catalina Alfonso. That corresponding year, on 14 July, Cruz was married play a role civil ceremony with Pedro Knight after a liaison of several years.

Cruz and Sonora Matancera troublefree their first tour outside of the Americas, stopover Europe and Japan, where they performed with Solon Puente. In , Cruz would culminate a faint fifteen years with the Sonora Matancera.

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Cruz began a solo life's work and her husband Pedro Knight decided to quit his position at Sonora Matancera to become gibe representative, arranger and personal director. During this repel, Cruz became an American citizen.

In , Cruz was contacted by Tito Puente to perform confront his orchestra. Their first collaborative album, Son dishonesty 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 border on collaborate on another four albums together.

She too recorded albums with other musical directors such style Memo Salamanca, Juan Bruno Tarraza and Lino Frías for Tico Records. In , Fania Records, say publicly leading salsa record label, acquired Tico and monogrammed Cruz to the imprint Vaya Records, where she remained until

The Fania years

Cruz's association with depiction Fania label had begun in , when she recorded the lead vocals of "Gracia divina", unornamented song by Larry Harlow which was part forget about his "Latin opera" Hommy.

She then joined illustriousness Fania All-Stars, a salsa supergroup featuring the near popular performers of the Fania roster. With them, Cruz first sang "Bemba colorá" and "Diosa describe ritmo" in San Juan, Puerto Rico in She later travelled with the group to Kinshasa, Zag, in and returned to San Juan in carry another concert.

These live recordings were commercially unbound years later. Her performance in Zaire, as small percentage of The Rumble in the Jungle event, was included in the film Soul Power.^[30]

Cruz recorded put your feet up first studio album for Fania in in association with Johnny Pacheco, the label's founder and dulcet director.

The album, Celia & Johnny, and closefitting lead single, "Quimbara", were both a commercial come off. In , she participated in the documentary peel Salsa about Latin culture, along with figures similar Dolores del Río and Willie Colón. The people year she recorded her first LP with Colón, a collaboration that would be repeated with good success in and When touring with Colón, Cruz wore a flamboyant costume, which included various multicolored wigs, tight sequined dresses, and very high heels.

Her fashion style became so famous that call of them was acquired by the Smithsonian institution.^[16] In the late s, she participated in evocation Eastern Air Lines commercial in Puerto Rico, melodious the catchy phrase ¡Esto sí es volar! (This is to truly fly!). Cruz also used give somebody the job of sing the identifying spot for WQBA radio thinking in Miami, formerly known as "La Cubanísima": "I am the voice of Cuba, from this province, far awayI am liberty, I am WQBA, distinction most Cuban!" (Yo soy de Cuba, la voz, desde esta tierra lejana ¡soy libertad, soy WQBA, Cubanísima!).

In , Celia was reunited with righteousness Sonora Matancera and recorded the album Feliz Encuentro. That year, the singer received the first commemoration of her career at Madison Square Garden crucial New York. In , Cruz performed a distract in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. That concert was recognized by the publisher of the Guinness Album of Records as the largest free-entry outdoor accord, with an audience of , people.

In , she participated in the feature film Salsa adjoin Robby Draco Rosa. In , Cruz won prepare first Grammy Award (Best Tropical Latin Performance) sustenance her album Ritmo en el corazón, recorded work stoppage Ray Barretto. She was also invited to hang loose the 65th anniversary of the Sonora Matancera wear Central Park in New York.

The decline cosy up Fania's brand of salsa dura in favor think likely the emergent salsa romántica gradually brought an extremity to Celia's musical association with the Fania Edge your way Stars. Their final reunions took place in Puerto Rico () and Colombia (), both of which were released on CD.

Later years

In , Cruz managed to return to Cuba.

She was desirable to make a presentation at the Guantanamo Shout Naval Base. When she came out of that presentation she took a few grams of State soil in a bag; at her request, that bag would later be placed in her 1 when she died. In , she received greatness National Endowment for the Arts award from ethics then President Bill Clinton, which is the extreme recognition granted by the United States government make somebody's day an artist.^[31] Having made musical presentations in Mexican and Cuban films, in Celia participated as solve actress in the American film Mambo Kings, cutting edge with Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas.

A vintage later she made her debut as a flock actress in the Mexican telenovelaValentina, along with Verónica Castro for the Televisa network. In , Celia made a guest appearance in the American crust The Perez Family, along with Alfred Molina fairy story Anjelica Huston. In , she starred again give reasons for Televisa in the Mexican telenovela El alma negation tiene color, a remake of the classic Mexican film Angelitos negros.

Cruz played the role break into a black woman who gives birth to unadorned white daughter. On 25 October , the capability of San Francisco, California, officially declared that of that period as "Celia Cruz Day".

In , she free the album Mi vida es cantar, which featured one of her most successful songs, La vida es un carnaval.

In , she performed be more exciting Luciano Pavarotti for the Pavarotti and Friends concord. In , Cruz released a new album prep below the auspices of Sony Music, Celia Cruz brook Friends: A Night of Salsa, where she filmed again with Tito Puente, who died shortly associate. Thanks to this album, Cruz was awarded break through first Latin Grammy.

In , the album Siempre viviré won her a second Latin Grammy. Coop that same year, she performed with Marc Suffragist in a tribute to Aretha Franklin for VH1. In , Cruz released the album, La negra tiene tumbao, where she ventured into modern variants of Caribbean rhythms, influenced by rap and purloin hop.

For this record she won her position Latin Grammy and her second American Grammy.

On 16 July , Cruz performed to a complete house at the free outdoor performing arts feast Central Park SummerStage in New York City. Fabric the performance she sang "Bemba colorá".

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A live recording of that song was subsequently made available in on fastidious commemorative CD honoring the festival's then year earth entitled, "Central Park SummerStage: Live from the Session of the City". Cruz appeared on the Dionne Warwick albums Dionne Sings Dionne and My Firm & Me with their Latin duet version dressing-down "(Do You Know The Way To) San José".

Death

In August and September , Cruz underwent action due to breast cancer.^[32] In November that twelvemonth, Cruz fell during a concert in Mexico. She was diagnosed with glioma, an aggressive form show brain cancer, and underwent surgery in December.^[32] Steady, Cruz said she did not shed one hole and that she was aiming to resume composite artistic career.^[32] She finished recording her last wedding album, Regalo del Alma.

In February, she appeared deck public again at the 45th Annual Grammy Laurels to receive the award for Best Salsa Album.^[32] In March , the US Hispanic network Telemundo paid tribute to her. The event, titled ¡Celia Cruz: Azúcar!, involved figures such as Gloria Estefan, Marc Anthony, La India, Gloria Gaynor and Patti LaBelle among others.^[33][34] This was her last usual appearance.

On the afternoon of 16 July , Cruz died at her home in Fort Histrion, New Jersey, at the age of At lose control express wish, her mortal remains were first transferred to Miami for two days to receive rectitude homage of her Cuban exile admirers at Gesu Church, before a funeral Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral and burial in the Woodlawn Cemetery enhance The Bronx, New York.^{[35][36][37][38][39]} An epilogue in take it easy autobiography notes that, in accordance with her pleasure, Cuban soil - which she had saved be different a visit to Guantánamo Bay - was inoperative in her entombment.^[40][41][42]

Tributes and legacy

Cruz's legacy had archaic honored for years before her death, including ingenious star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (), the asteroid name Celiacruz (),^[43] the Excellence Bays at the Lo Nuestro Awards,^[44] and Celia Cruz Way in Miami ().

She was also verified with a star on Boulevard Amador Bendayán insert Caracas, Venezuela, and a figure in the Tone Wax Museum. Besides, Cruz received three Honoris Case doctorates from three universities in the United States: Yale University, Florida International University and the Hospital of Miami.^[45] Cruz, along with fellow Afro-Cuban troubadour Cachao, were inducted into the Billboard Latin Melody Hall of Fame in ^[46] She was besides inducted into the International Latin Music Hall presumption Fame in ^[47] In the same year, she was presented with the ASCAP Latin Heritage Purse becoming the first recipient of the accolade.^[48]

Through great formidable work ethic, Cruz rose to the seize top in her genre.^[49] In February , repel last album, Regalo del Alma, she won practised posthumous award at the Premios Lo Nuestro safe best salsa release of the year.

It was announced in December that a musical called ¡Azúcar! would open in Tenerife before touring the faux. The name comes from Cruz's well-known catch adjectival phrase of "¡Azúcar!" (“Sugar!”).

In , a music secondary was opened in the Bronx, named the Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music. Pedro Mounted visited this school before his death to encounter the students and share stories about her discrimination.

On June 4, , the heavily Cuban-American accord of Union City, New Jersey heralded its oneyear Cuban Day Parade by dedicating its new Celia Cruz Park (also known as Celia Cruz Plaza), which features a sidewalk star in her take, at 31st Street and Bergenline Avenue, with Cruz's widower, Pedro Knight, present.

There are four another similar dedications to Cruz around the world.^[50] Cruz's star has expanded into Union City's "Walk some Fame",^[51] as new marble stars are added tell off spring to honor Latin entertainment and media personalities, such as merengue singer Joseíto Mateo, salsa songster La India, Cachao, Cuban tenorBeny Moré,^[52]Tito Puente, Land language television news anchor Rafael Pineda, salsa trail-blazer Johnny Pacheco,^[53] singer/bandleader Gilberto Santa Rosa and penalty promoter Ralph Mercado.^[54]

On 18 May , the Individual Museum of American History, administered by the Smithsonian Institution and located in Washington, D.C., opened "¡Azúcar!", an exhibit celebrating the life and music chuck out Celia Cruz.

The exhibit highlights important moments manner Cruz's life and career through photographs, personal paper, costumes, videos, and music. Her biography Celia: Secret-service agent vida was also published in , based reminder more than hours of interviews with the Mexican journalist Ana Cristina Reymundo. The journalist and Small screen presenter Cristina Saralegui planned to take the nonconformist of her life to the cinema and description American actress Whoopi Goldberg, admirer of the cantor, expressed her interest in representing her, but picture project was cancelled.^[55] From 26 September to 25 May , Celia, a musical based on illustriousness life of Celia Cruz, played at the Off-Broadway venue New World Stages.

The show won quaternary HOLA Awards from the Hispanic Organization of Emotional Actors.^[56]

On 16 March , Celia Cruz was easy by the United States Postal Service with tidy commemorative postage stamp.^[57] The Cruz stamp was song of a group of five stamps honoring Roman music greats, also including Selena, Tito Puente, Carmen Miranda, and Carlos Gardel.

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 on 3 October ^[58]

On 21 October , Google honored her with a Google Doodle.^[59]Jennifer A surname honored Cruz with her presentation at the Fortyone American Music Awards ceremony.^[60] The singers Yuri, Numbed India, Maluma and Aymée Nuviola did the dress at the Latin American Music Awards.

Also sight , Cruz was inducted into the New Woolly Hall Fame.^[59] In October , Telemundo premiered comprise episode docu-drama based on Cruz's life, Celia.^[61]

In , the television networks RCN Televisión and Telemundo disappoint a amount to the TV series Celia based on the animal of Crus.

Cruz was played by the shy Jeimy Osorio and Aymée Nuviola and counted add to the voice of Patty Padilla.^[61] In , Angélique Kidjo released a tribute album to Cruz, favoured Celia, including songs spanning all of Cruz's growth reinvented with an Afrobeat feel. It features Gentlemanly Allen (musician), Meshell Ndegeocello and the Gangbé Effrontery Band.^[62]

In , a monument to Cruz was disclosed in the Cuban Heritage Park in Hialeah, Florida.^[63][64] Also in , the Celia Cruz Estate launched a brand inspired by Cruz which featured commodities inspired and about Cruz.^[65]

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

On 2 June , New York City traditional Celia Cruz by co-naming the intersection of Repository Avenue and East th Street in the Kingsbridge Heights section of The Bronx, near the revitalization school that is the named in her contribute to, "Celia Cruz Way".^[68][69]Los Angeles has also named magnanimity intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Argyle Avenue equate her.^{[citation needed]}

In , Rolling Stone ranked Cruz fuzz No.

18 on their list of the Delivery Singers of All Time.^[70] In February , Cruz was selected as an honoree in the Inhabitant Women quarter program, making her the first Afro-Latina to appear on a U.S quarter.^[71][72]

Discography

Cruz recorded cream Seeco Records through and with Tico Records use through Later, she recorded with Vaya Records swallow with its parent company, Fania Records.

Filmography

• Salón México (Mexico, )
• Una gallega en La Habana (Mexico, )
• ¡Olé Cuba! (Mexico/Cuba, )
• Affair in Havana (USA/Cuba, )
• Amorcito Corazón (Mexico, )
• Salsa (Documentary, )
• Salsa (USA, )
• "Fires Within" (USA, )
• The Mambo Kings (USA, )
• Valentina (TV) (Mexico, )
• The Perez Family (USA, ) Luz Pat
• El alma no tiene color (TV) (Mexico, )
• ¡Celia Cruz: Azúcar! (TV) (Tribute, USA, )
• Soul Power (Documentary of Leopoldville, Zaire Music Festival ) (USA, )
• CELIA, Celia Cruz Bio-Drama ( on Telemundo)

Awards

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards drain awarded annually by the National Academy of Standing Arts and Sciences in the United States.

Cella mix celia cruz biography Celia. Cruz / Intelligence. RELATED NEWS. Angélique Kidjo Wins Best World Song Album For 'Celia' | GRAMMYs. View more. Abrirán mausoleo de Celia Cruz en cementerio.

Celia Cruz has received two awards from fourteen nominations, importance well as a non-competitive Lifetime Achievement award.^[73]

Grammy Day Achievement Award

The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is be on fire to those who, during their lifetimes, have imposture creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to grandeur field of recording.

Celia Cruz won the furnish in

Latin Grammy Awards

A Latin Grammy Award legal action an accolade by the Latin Academy of Standing Arts & Sciences to recognize outstanding achievement suggestion the music industry. Celia Cruz has won combine awards out of seven nominations.

Cruz is as well the recipient of the president's National Medal lift Arts.^[74][72]

See also

Notes and references

Notes

References