Celia Cruz | Notable Biographies

(1925/10/21 - 2003/07/16)

Celia Cruz
Cuban singer

Was born on October 21, 1925, in Santos Suárez, a suburb of Havana.
Daughter of the railway Simón Cruz and Catalina Alfonso Stoker. He cradled his little brothers singing them lullabies.
From a young age, while going from teaching, it was frequent to see in radio programs where opportunity was given to the young artists. In the most prestigious of these emissions, The Supreme art Court, got his first award (fifteen dollars) singing the tango, 'Nostalgia'.
Later enrolling at the National Conservatory of music in Cuba for completing his formal studies in music. Follower of the Orchestra ofSenón Álvarez, Joseíto Fernández and Paulina Álvarezsongs, began in the world of the show singing in night clubs and cabarets in the capital.
From 1950 he was the voice of the orquesta Sonora Matancera, and since then it was called 'The Rumba Queen'. With the Sonora, a band that was grown black rhythms, moved to Mexico in 1959. In 1961, already married to trumpet Pedro Knight, he lives in United States and in addition to his work with the Sonora, initiates collaboration with musicians such as Tito Puente , or Johnny Pacheco.
Teacher at improvising in their live performances, their beginnings in the salsa movement marked its collaboration in the salsopera Hommy of Larry Harlow, represented in Carnegie Hall in New York City in 1973, in where she played the character of "Divine grace". Subsequently he participated with the Fania All Stars singing their classic "Bemba colora" at the concert recorded live at the Yanquee Stadium, then in 1974 with Johnny Pacheco recording disc entitled Celia and Johnny that became a classic of salsa with "Toro mata" and "Quimabara". Starting from there, as well as having produced other very important discs with Johnny Pacheco, has recorded stellar way accompanied by the great orchestras of the movement of the sauce as Willie Colón, Ray Barretto , and even a meeting with the Sonora Matancera entitled Happy encounter.
He held numerous tours with The Fania All Stars, which will travel the world. His vast discography - said to have a large disk for each year of his life - has been enriched by collaborations on alien ground. It appeared in the mambo Kings, Hollywood's Oscar Hijuelos novel version.
He recorded with David Byrneand the Scottish does not forget its impact: "He sang one micro meter and even covered my voice". He did the sublime empty vessels, with Argentines Fabulosos Cadillacs. He worked with Haitian rapper Wyclefjean (Fugees) or Spaniards of Jarabe de Palo.
Celia Cruz died on July 16, 2003 at the age of 78 in his last moments with her husband, trumpeter Pedro Knight in his New Jerseyhome. The previous year it was operated of a cancerous cyst in a chest, and after a brain tumor.