NEW YORK (by Irma Barrios/Latin
Style magazine) - On July 16, 2003, the world mourned the passing and celebrated the life of the legendary queen of salsa, Celia Cruz. She conquered the world with her voice and charm, and never forgot her humble beginnings in Havana, Cuba. Her musical career jump-started in 1950 when she joined big band La Sonora Matancera where her husband Don Pedro Knight played the trumpet. She made 79 albums and 10 movies, of which the most recent were 'The Mambo Kings' and 'The Perez Family.'
Earlier milestone collaborations were with Willy Colon and the late, legendary timbalero, Tito Puente. During the 1970's she experienced a surge in her musical career with trombone great Johnny Pacheco under his Fania record label as lead singer for The Fania All-Stars group. Her smile and charisma on stage were unlike any other and as story has it, she came up with her trademark shout 'azucar' (sugar) when she found herself repeatedly requesting sugar from a waiter for her bitter coffee.
Celia received many accolades, such as 12 Grammy nominations with three wins: One in 1989 in the category of 'Best Tropical Performance' for the song 'Ritmo en el Corazon' and her second win in 2002 in the category of 'Best Salsa Album' for the album 'La Negra Tiene Tumbao' and her third win in 2003 for 'Best Salsa/Merengue Album' for her final album 'Regalo Del Alma.'
Other accolades include honorary degrees from Yale University, Florida University and Miami University. She was presented with a National Endowment for the Arts medal by President Clinton, and the Smithsonian Institute Lifetime Achievement Award.
Nevertheless, it appears, her biggest joy came from the love people around the world gave her. According to her husband Don Pedro Knight, she thoroughly enjoyed replying to fan mail personally with the stroke of her own pen... In order to get a closer glimpse of this bigger-than-life legend, I was privileged to speak with several people who were close to her: Ralph Mercado, Sergio George, Narciso Rodriguez, Omer Pardillo and Don Pedro Knight.
To view the entire article, please visit:
https://www.latinola.com/story.php?story=1903
Irma Barrios is a contributing writer for Latin Style magazine and can be reached at: [email protected].
Contributions to the Celia Cruz Foundation can be sent to:
Celia Cruz Foundation, 55 Flanagan Way Ste. 302, c/o Harold Leib, Secaucus, NJ 07094
