Celia Cruz was inducted into the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame in 1994, solidifying her legacy in Latin music.
She was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1987, a testament to her impact on the entertainment industry.
A music school in the Bronx is named after her, ensuring her legacy continues to inspire future generations.
Biography
Early Life
Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso, born on October 21, 1925, in Havana, Cuba, was the daughter of Simón Cruz, a railway stoker, and Catalina Alfonso Ramos, a housewife. Growing up in a large family of fourteen children, Celia began singing at a very young age, often entertaining her siblings with cradle songs. Despite her father's disapproval of her musical aspirations, she was influenced by the vibrant musical culture of 1930s Cuba, absorbing styles from various artists and even learning Santería songs from her neighbors. Her early exposure to music laid the foundation for her illustrious career.
Career
Cruz's professional journey began in the 1940s when she joined several musical groups, including the Conjunto Siboney and Orquesta de Ernesto Duarte. Her big break came in 1950 when she became the lead singer of the renowned Sonora Matancera, making history as the first black frontwoman of the band. This opportunity propelled her to fame, and she became known as "La Guarachera de Cuba" for her energetic performances. Over the decades, Cruz evolved into the "Queen of Salsa," selling over 30 million records and earning numerous accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Legacy
Celia Cruz's impact on music and culture is profound. She received numerous honors, including the National Medal of Arts and induction into the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame. Her legacy continues to inspire, with a music school named after her in the Bronx and a posthumous Grammy award for her final album, "Regalo del Alma." Cruz's catchphrase, "¡Azúcar!" has become synonymous with her vibrant spirit, and her contributions to Latin music remain celebrated worldwide.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
En España1971
- 1.Sabor gitano
- 2.El cóndor que pasa
- 3.Palmeras palmeras
- 4.Lacho
- 5.Yo soy esa
- 6.Rico azuquitar
- 7.Ya yo
- 8.Guajira a España
- 9.Prefiero tu amor
- 10.Cásate conmigo
- 11.Soy
- 12.Ritmo de juventud
Etc. etc. etc.1970
- 1.Etc. etc. etc.
- 2.Bomboro quiña
- 3.Ya me liberé
- 4.A medias de la noche
- 5.Canamori
- 6.Sugar Sugar
- 7.Falluco
- 8.Falsia
- 9.Tanto
- 10.Bailando Elegua
Alma con alma: The Heart & Soul of Celia Cruz and Tito Puente1970
- 1.Cuyi3:22
- 2.Sahara4:12
- 3.Mi bohío4:13
- 4.Salsa de tomate3:16
- 5.Elegua3:02
- 6.Alguien vendrá3:05
- 7.Trabalan3:22
- 8.Guiro 6/83:03
- 9.Murmullo del mar3:06
- 10.Chango2:52
Quimbo quimbumbia1969
- 1.Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In3:42
- 2.Yo soy la voz2:37
- 3.La danza de la chiva2:28
- 4.Mi querida Borinquen3:56
- 5.Genesis3:15
- 6.Quimbo Quimbumbia2:56
- 7.Yo regresaré3:17
- 8.En el batey2:48
- 9.Corazón contento2:22
- 10.En el cafetal3:55
Serenata guajira1968
- 1.Cuando salí de Cuba2:40
- 2.Echa pa'lante2:27
- 3.Sin Dios no hubiera nada2:56
- 4.Tumbaloflesicodelicomicoso2:25
- 5.En casa de Mario2:15
- 6.Serenata guajira2:16
- 7.Virgen de la caridad2:45
- 8.El cacahuatero2:06
- 9.Voy a Yucatán2:18
- 10.Metida con you2:55
- 11.Esperaré2:27
- 12.Corta la fruta verde2:40
La excitante1968
- 1.Sabroso son cubano
- 2.Merengue de carnaval
- 3.La negra Caridad
- 4.Besito a la francesa
- 5.A Santa Bárbara
- 6.A la deriva
- 7.Mi treque, treque
- 8.Agüita y café
- 9.Para ti mi boogaloo
- 10.Llegaste
...a ti México1967
- 1.Afecto y cariño
- 2.Añoranza maternal
- 3.Cierra los ojos
- 4.Por esa puerta
- 5.Potpourrí mexicano no. 2
- 6.Matías Pérez boogaloo
- 7.Cuando estoy contigo
- 8.Como un volcán
- 9.Regresaremos al amor
- 10.Me acusan de robar
- 11.Serenata mulata
- 12.Potpourrí mexicano no. 1
671967
- 1.Pulpa de tamarindo
- 2.El panquelero
- 3.Yerberito moderno
- 4.El pescador
- 5.Ven, Bernabé
- 6.Olé
- 7.Angelitos negros
- 8.Tu voz
- 9.Ven mi guajira
- 10.Lágrimas negras
- 11.Burundanga2:28
- 12.Juntos
Bravo1967
- 1.Bravo2:34
- 2.Con una sola miradita2:26
- 3.La campeona2:55
- 4.Más fuerte que tu amor2:45
- 5.Su majestad la rumba2:26
- 6.El cinturón2:10
- 7.Guantanamera2:49
- 8.Suenan los tambores2:35
- 9.Guárdame tu amor2:40
- 10.Ay que vecino2:08
- 11.Así va mi cantar2:38
- 12.La jaibera2:27
Cuba y Puerto Rico son…1966
- 1.La guarachera2:45
- 2.Mi desesperación3:14
- 3.La plena bomba me llama2:50
- 4.Desencanto4:12
- 5.Cumbiando2:33
- 6.Tinicue3:05
- 7.No hay amigos2:56
- 8.Me acuerdo de ti4:05
- 9.No juegue con el Diablo2:48
- 10.Herencia gitana3:12
- 11.La rueda2:03
- 12.Salve pa’ti’2:12
Son con guaguancó1966
- 1.Bemba colora3:33
- 2.Son con guaguancó2:48
- 3.Es la humanidad2:25
- 4.Lo mismo sí, que no2:57
- 5.Oye mi consejo2:49
- 6.Se me perdió la cartera2:34
- 7.Tremendo guaguancó3:11
- 8.Permíteme2:33
- 9.No hay manteca2:29
- 10.El cohete2:43
- 11.La adivinanza2:49
- 12.Amarra la yegua3:16
El nuevo estilo de la guarachera1965
- 1.Hay comentario
- 2.Lindo Puerto Rico
- 3.No quiero llorar
- 4.Rumbanacoa
- 5.Lo tuyo es mío
- 6.Pila pilandera
- 7.Con mucho cachet
- 8.Cuando tú me querías
- 9.Egoismo
- 10.Bombolalle
- 11.Pegao
- 12.Cachunga
Sabor y ritmo de pueblos1964
Tracklist not collected yet.
Canciones inolvidables1964
Tracklist not collected yet.
Canciones que yo quería haber grabado primero1964
Tracklist not collected yet.
La tierna, conmovedora, bamboleadora1963
Tracklist not collected yet.
México, que grande eres1961
Tracklist not collected yet.
La dinamica!1960
Tracklist not collected yet.
Reflexiones de Celia Cruz1960
Tracklist not collected yet.
Su favorita1959
Tracklist not collected yet.
La reina del ritmo cubano1958
Tracklist not collected yet.
Canta Celia Cruz (Celia Cruz Sings)1956
Tracklist not collected yet.
Celia Cruz1954
Tracklist not collected yet.
Selecciones favoritas de Celia Cruz1952
Tracklist not collected yet.
50 Años Cantado Para Ti
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Sony Music
- Record label
- Fania Records
- Record label
- Tico Records
- Record label
- Seeco
Achievements
- Award
- National Medal of Arts
- Award
- Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album
- Award
- Grammy Award for Best Salsa/Merengue Album
- Award
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
- Award
- Latin Grammy Award for Best Salsa Album
- Award
- Grammy Award for Best Salsa Album
- Award
- Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame
- Award
- International Latin Music Hall of Fame
- Award
- Lo Nuestro Excellence Award
- Award
- ASCAP Latin Heritage Award
- Award
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Award
- honorary doctor of the University of Miami
- Award
- New Jersey Hall of Fame
Groups
- Fania All-Starscurrent
- Coro Yoruba y Tambores Batá
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Calia Cruz, Celia Cruz & Friends, Celia Cruz Con Orquesta, Cella Cruz, Cellia Cruz, Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso
Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso, known as Celia Cruz, was a Cuban-American singer and one of the most popular Latin artists of the 20th century. Cruz rose to fame in Cuba during the 1950s as a singer of guarachas, earning the nickname La Guarachera de Cuba. In the following decades, she became known internationally as the "Queen of Salsa" due to her contributions to Latin music. She sold over 30 million records, making her one of the best-selling Latin music artists.
All links
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
…