![]() ![]() and Puente and Famia All-Stars in Africa and France, 1970s reunited with Sonora Matancera, 1982 appeared in concert in her honor, Madison Square Garden, New York City, 1982. and Central and South America made first recordings, 1951 signed with Seeco label, early 1960s signed with Tico label, 1966 performed with Tito Puente, beginning in late 1960s appeared in opera Hommy, Carnegie Hall, New York City, 1973 appeared with Johnny Pacheco throughout U.S. Won Garcia Serra radio network talent contest, 1947 appeared in amateur shows appeared on Radio Progreso Cubana and Radio Uni ón joined dance troupe Las Mulatas de Fuego joined orchestra Gloria Matancera singer with orchestra Sonora Matancera, 1950-1965 with Sonora Matancera, appeared at Tropicana nightclub, Havana, on radio and television, and in films, including Una Gallega en Habana, Ole Cuba, Rinc ón Criollo, Piel Canela, and Amorcito Coraz ón, and toured U.S. Education: Attended Escuela Normal para Maestros-, attended Conservatory of Music. 1929, in Havana, Cuba daughter of Simon and Catalina (Alfonso) Cruz married Pedro Knight (trumpet player and Cruz ’s manager and musical director), 1962. One of her first jobs was to sing on Radio Progreso Cubana for one week she also performed on Radio Uni ón for some For the Record …īorn October 21, c. She appeared in amateur shows and was soon sought as a paid entertainer. Cruz sang the tango “Nostalgia ” in bolero tempo and, in addition to winning a cake, she became a local hit. Cruz was initially inspired to become a professional singer while still in school, following her victory in a talent show called “La Hora de T é, ” which aired on the Garcia Serra radio network in 1947. Despite her father ’s wishes, she left school and did not return after her singing career began to take off in the late 1940s. ![]() ![]() ![]() Traded Teaching Aspirations for Singingįortunately for salsa fans, Cruz never became a teacher of literature, as she had planned. Cruz graduated from the Rep ública de Mexico public school in Havana and went on to the Escuela Normal para Maestros. Her father encouraged her to become a teacher he wanted the young woman to have a respectable job. “I wanted to be a mother, a teacher, and a housewife, ” she told the New York Times. Instead of aspiring to become a singer, however, Cruz prepared herself for a career as a teacher. With her aunt, she listened to the radio and went to ballrooms. It was apparent that she was gifted with a beautiful voice. She was responsible for putting the children who lived in her home to sleep with lullabies but the songs she sang not only kept the children awake, they lured neighbors to the house. Although Simon and Catalina Cruz had only four children of their own -Celia the second eldest -14 children, including nieces, nephews, and cousins, occupied the Cruz home in a poor part of Havana, the Santa Saurez barrio, or neighborhood.Īs a young girl, Cruz loved music. ”Ĭruz was born in Havana, Cuba, to Simon and Catalina (Alfonso) Cruz. My message is always felicidad - happiness. I don ’t want them thinking about when there ’s not any money, or when there ’s fighting at home. She commented in the New York Times, “When people hear me sing, I want them to be happy, happy, happy. ” Cruz has indeed brightened the world with her songs, and in so doing she has realized her dreams. As she said in M ás, “Music is what gave me the courage to fight and get out of poverty and touch the universe. A remarkable performer and person, she loves her fans as much as she loves her music. After more than 40 years of performing professionally, she continues to intrigue Hispanics and non-Hispanics alike around the world with the rhythms of her Cuban homeland. Celia Cruz is the undisputed queen of salsa. ![]()
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