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FILE – In this Sept. 17, 2002 file photo, Cuba’s Celia Cruz arrives for a tribute in honor of Mexico’s Vicente Fernandez as the 2002 Latin Recording Academy person of the year in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. Telemundo will air the first episode of “Celia”, based on the life of Cuban singer Celia Cruz, on October 13. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File) By Laysha Macedo February 28, 2025 – 16:00 Black History Month is time to reflect on and celebrate the contributions of Black artists, scientists, performers, activists and many more who have paved the way. This time should be a reminder to continuously recognize and uplift Black change makers throughout history beyond this month. From La Lupe to Gwen Ifill , Afro Latinas have always formed part of history as trailblazers in their industries. This month we are highlighting a voice that has become one of the most iconic female vocalists of all-time and a pioneer in the genre of salsa—the talented Afro-Cubana, Celia Cruz. With a career spanning 60 years, Cruz became a household name whose music is as timeless and energetic as she was. Read along to learn more about the legacy and rise to stardom of La Reina de La Salsa and one of the most successful and beloved Afro-Latinas in entertainment. Early Life in Cuba Celia Cruz was born Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso de la Santísima Trinidad in 1925 in Barrio Santos Suarez in Havana, Cuba. Cruz found her love for music at an early age, from singing to her siblings to sleep to forming part of school productions. As a teenager, she was taken to cabarets by her aunt and cousin to perform. Her love eventually grew, driving her to pursue music at an academic level, studying voice, theory, and piano at Havana’s National Conservatory of Music. She competed in the radio competition show “Hora del Té” which helped her rise to fame and garnered attention from producers and other musical artists. She made her first recordings in the 1940s and in 1950 she became the lead female singer of Cuba’s immensely popular orchestra, La Sonora Matancera. Celia’s Move to Nueva York Stay connected! Subscribe now and get the latest on culture, empowerment, and more. SIGN ME UP! This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and Google Privacy Policy and the Terms of Service . Thank You! You are already subscribed to our newsletter As a lead singer for the orchestra, she became known for singing guarachas—a music style characterized by a rapid tempo and comical lyrics—earning her the name “La Guarachera de Cuba” . Throughout the 1950s, Cruz toured with the group all over Latin America and traveled to the United States for the first time in 1957 to receive her first gold record award for the single “Burundanga”. It was during this time that Celia’s star grew and she coined her signature phrase “Azucar!”—a phrase she continued to use throughout her recording career in songs and performances. With the Cuban Revolution in 1960, Cruz—who was touring in Mexico at the time—made the decision to not return to Cuba . Fidel Castro became enraged by her decision, barring her from returning to Cuba. In 1961, she moved to New Jersey and married her former trumpet player, Pedro Knight. Living in New Jersey with access to New York’s vibrant Latin music scene, Cruz began to come into her own as a solo artist in 1965. She collaborated with Puerto Rican musician Tito Puente and joined his orchestra. During this time, Puente and Cruz were important to the development of the dance sounds that have become known as salsa which fused African and Cuban musical traditions. Fania Records was born in 1964—a record label dedicated to the salsa genre—and along came Fania All Stars, which were the group of musicians who formed part of the label. Celia was the only female member of the Fania All Stars and as part of the label recorded “Celia y Johnny” with Dominican musician Johnny Pacheco. The record brought into the world what became one of Celia’s signature songs, “Quimbara”. Celia’s Stardom Spanning six decades, Cruz recorded over 80 albums and songs which included Azucar Negra (1994), Mi Vida Es Cantar (1998), a live album Celia Cruz and Friends: A Night of Salsa (1999), and La Negra Tiene Tumbao (2001). With these albums came hit songs that have become some of her signature tracks including La Negra Tiene Tumbao and La Vida Es Un Carnaval — which won the 2003 Premio Lo Nuestro Award for Tropical Song of the Year. Over the course of her career, Cruz also earned 23 Gold Records and three Grammys —Best Tropical Latin Performance for “Ritmo En El Corazón”, Best Salsa/Merengue Album for Regalo Del Alma, Best Salsa Album for La Negra Tiene Tumbao , as well as a posthumous Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. She also earned four Latin Grammys, one at the inaugural Latin GRAMMY Awards in 2000 when she won Salsa Performance for Celia Cruz And Friends: A Night Of Salsa. Celia Cruz is known for her colorfully bold and flamboyant style filled with bright colored hair, feather boas, and glamorous makeup. Her vibrant personality translated to her onstage persona through her wardrobe and her performance. On top of her massive success through awards shows, Cruz also had the opportunity to perform with a wide range of fellow musicians such as Gloria Estefan, Dionne Warwick, Patti LaBelle, and Wyclef Jean—highlighting her ability to reach both Spanish-language and English-language markets. Cruz also made her way to film screens appearing in several Hollywood films such as Mambo Kings, The Perez Family, and Fires Within. Celia’s star earned her one on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1987 and she was awarded then National Medal of the Arts by President Bill Clinton in 1994. Death and Legacy In March 2003, a special tribute to Celia aired on Telemundo entitled, Celia Cruz: Azucar! which also marked her final public appearance before her death later that year. The tribute concert raised $145,000 for the Celia Cruz Foundation which benefits music education. The special was hosted by Marc Anthony and Gloria Estefan featuring performances by icons like Jose Feliciano, Patti Labelle, and Gloria Gaynor. Cruz died in her home in Fort Lee, New Jersey from brain cancer at age 77 on July 16, 2003. Just one year after her death, the New Jersey municipality of Union City dedicated Celia Cruz Park during its annual Cuban Day Parade. Celia Cruz will forever be remembered for her captivating performances, signature style, and her legacy as one of the most remarkable Afro-Latina singers of all time. Nearly 22 years later, Cruz’s legacy remains and she’s still recognized for her contributions to music as the Queen of Salsa. She continues making history most recently as the first Afro-Latina to appear on a U.S. quarter as part of the American Women Quarters Program in August 2024. She’s still one of the most successful and recognizable Afro-Latinas in music today and considered the most successful Latin American music artists of all time. In this Article afro latina Celia Cruz cuba Cubana Queen of salsa Salsa More on this topic Culture Navigating DEI Bans as an Afro-Latina in Academia February 27, 2025 – 06:00 Culture Alexis Daria Talks Latina Representation in Romance Literature & Latest Book February 26, 2025 – 12:00 Culture Love in the Time of Marianismo & How to Break the Cycle February 17, 2025 – 06:00 Culture 14 Romance Books by Latina Authors Coming Out in 2025 February 13, 2025 – 10:00
