Celia Cruz
Beloved as the undisputed Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz had a remarkable six-decade career, with more than 70 records, two Grammy awards, and three Latin Grammys, among numerous other accolades, to her credit. Cruz, who sang only in her native Spanish language,also received a Smithsonian Lifetime Achievement award, and a National Medal of the Arts for her contributions to Latin music and culture.
Celia Cruz began singing in amateur contests at the age of 14, in her home city of Havana, Cuba. She studied music theory, piano and voice at the National Music Conservatory.
In 1950 she began singing with the conjunto Sonora Matancera, and with that group she was a central figure in some of the most glorious chapters of Afrocuban music, recording a number of legendary songs, including Yembe Laroco, Yerbero Moderno, Burundanga, and Caramelo. By the end of the '50s the Sonora Matancera was the most popular group in Cuba. Celia's alliance with them took her beyond the coast of Cuba and exported her talent to the world. While in the group she met Pedro Knight, at the time one of the band's two trumpeters. This relationship culminated in matrimony and has lasted 42 years.
On July 15, 1960, she left Cuba. Upon arriving in the United States, she made history once again. In the following decade she recorded various albums with maestro Tito Puente, and together they awoke the interest of the Anglo and European public in Latin music, a phenomenon that in the '70s became known as the salsa boom. Other distinguished Latin musicians with whom she collaborated included Johnny Pacheco (with whom she recorded such classics as Quimbara, Cúcala, and Bemba Colorá), Willie Colón, Pete Conde Rodr�-guez, Ray Barretto, Sonora Ponceña, and the Fania All Stars.
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