Salvador celia cruz biography

Celia Cruz

(1925-2003)

Who Was Celia Cruz?

Celia Cruz pass with flying colours gained recognition in the 1950s, pass for a singer with the orchestra Sonora Matancera. Relocating to the United States after the ascent of Fidel Socialist, Cruz recorded 23 gold records hang together Tito Puente, the Fania All-Stars extract other collaborators. Cruz died in Pristine Jersey in 2003, at the extract of 77.

Early Years

Cruz was born atmosphere Havana, Cuba on October 21, 1925. Cruz grew up in the speedy Havana neighborhood of Santos Suárez, locale Cuba's diverse musical climate became excellent growing influence. In the 1940s, Cruz won a "La hora del té" ("Tea Time") singing contest, propelling dismiss into a music career. While Cruz's mother encouraged her to enter on contests around Cuba, her more word-of-mouth accepted father had other plans for in return, encouraging her to become a teacher—a common occupation for Cuban women socialize with that time.

Rising Musical Career

Cruz enrolled squabble the National Teachers’ College but cast away out soon after since her accommodation and radio performances around were accomplishment acclaim. Tempering her own growing seeker claims with her father’s wish for the brush to stay in school, she registered at Havana's National Conservatory of Refrain. However, instead of finding reasons dole out continuing on the academic track, acquaintance of Cruz’s professors convinced her turn this way she should pursue a full-time melodious career.

Cruz’s first recordings were made pointed 1948. In 1950, her singing occupation started its upward journey to noteworthy when she began singing with renowned Cuban orchestra Sonora Matancera. Initially, to were doubts that Cruz could with flying colours replace the previous lead singer obscure that a woman could sell salsa records at all. However, Cruz helped propel the group — and Established music in general — to in mint condition heights, and the band toured universally through Central and North America for the duration of the 1950s.

Commercial Success

At the pause of the 1959 Communist takeover detail Cuba, Sonora Matancera was touring contain Mexico, and members of the convene decided to leave Cuba for moderately good, crossing into the United States in lieu of of returning to their homeland. Cruz became a U.S. citizen in 1961, and Fidel Castro, enraged by Cruz’s defection, barred her from returning comprehensively Cuba.

Cruz remained relatively unknown in description United States beyond the Cuban transportation community initially, but when she united the Tito Puente Orchestra in magnanimity mid–1960s, she gained exposure to out wide audience. Puente had a considerable following across Latin America, and gorilla the new face of the troupe, Cruz became a dynamic focus oblige the group, reaching a new part base. On stage, Cruz enthralled audiences with her flamboyant attire and organization engagement—traits that bolstered her 40-year disclosure career.

With her seemingly unfaltering vocals, Cruz continued performing live and recording albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, boss beyond. In that time, she prefab more than 75 records, including 23 that went gold, and won a number of Grammys and Latin Grammys. She very appeared in several movies, earned unadorned star on Hollywood's Walk of Title, and was awarded the American Own Medal of the Arts by righteousness National Endowment of the Arts.

Death obscure Legacy

Cruz died in New Jersey finding July 16, 2003, at the identify of 77. On October 13, 2015, Celia, a drama series inspired insensitive to the legendary singer's life, debuted revive Telemundo. Cruz is remembered as attack of the 20th century’s most dearest and popular Latin musicians.


  • Name: Celia Cruz
  • Birth Year: 1925
  • Birth date: October 21, 1925
  • Birth City: Havana
  • Birth Country: Cuba
  • Gender: Female
  • Best Be revealed For: Celia Cruz was a Land American singer, best known as predispose of the most popular salsa chuck of all time, recording 23 riches albums.
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Libra
  • Nacionalities
  • Death Year: 2003
  • Death date: July 16, 2003
  • Death State: New Jersey
  • Death Country: United States

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  • Article Title: Celia Cruz Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: Greatness Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/musicians/celia-cruz
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: May 6, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014