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Celia Cruz

Celia Cruz
Cuban singer, and artist.

Born: 21 October 1925 (1924 or 1929, for some sources) in Havana, Cuba.
Died: 16 July 2003 in Fort Lee, New Jersey, USA (aged 77).

Cruz is recognised by many as the "Queen Of Salsa", and being known for her shout of "Azúcar!" (en: "Sugar") during performances. The voice, charisma, and talent of Cruz has created one of the most impressive music careers. Listing her accomplishments would require a book. Her more than 70 albums have yielded many gold and platinum records, and she has received more than a hundred awards from prestigious institutions around the world. She also appeared in 10 movies, including "The Mambo Kings" (1992) and "The Perez Family" (1995).

Of Afro-Cuban decent, Cruz began singing in amateur contests at the age of 14 in her home city of Havana, Cuba, where she studied music theory, piano and voice at the National Music Conservatory.

In 1950 she began singing with the conjunto La Sonora Matancera, and with that group she was a central figure in some of the most glorious chapters of Afro-Cuban music, recording a number of legendary songs, including "Yembe Laroco", "Yerbero Moderno", "Burundanga", and "Caramelo", among many.

By the end of the 1950s La Sonora Matancera was the most popular group in Cuba, but they left in 1959 when Fidel Castro came to power. Celia's alliance with them took her beyond the coast of Cuba; firstly to Mexico for two years, then moving to the US, and performing internationally. While in the group she met Pedro Knight, at the time one of the band's two trumpeters – their relationship culminated in matrimony lasting 42 years. She died just two days after celebrating her 41st wedding anniversary.

She received the first of her five Grammy Awards in 1989, and also won two Latin Grammy Awards. She received three doctorates Honoris Causa from Yale, Florida International University and Miami University.

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