![]() Celia refused to listen and participated in radio contests on Havana’s radio stations to get her name and talent before the public. He wanted Celia to be a teacher and follow his dictates. Her father, Simon Cruz, did not appreciate her talent and had other plans for her. Show business was not seen as a suitable career for a single, respectable woman of that time and the idea of her being a performer was not acceptable to her father. La Sonora was so big they were like the Earth, Wind, and Fire of Cuba. As she was developing her talent, Celia wanted to become a singer with Cuba’s most famous band, La Sonora Matancera. She would go on to study at the National Conservatory of Music. However, her natural talent could not be ignored. Although a Roman Catholic, she was exposed to and learned the musical traditions of Santeria, which is the religion that comes from the Yoruba of Africa.Ĭelia attended the Normal School for Teachers in Havana hoping to become a teacher. The music of Cuba is a vital mixture of both the European and the African, in short, a coming together of the Spanish guitar and African drum. It was unique and stirring.Īll her life, Celia absorbed and experienced the incredible musical culture that was all around her. Yet, most of these criticisms ceased when the audience heard her voice. She often felt the sting of racism and sexism as she was told she was not attractive enough or fair enough to be a star. Celia’s path to stardom was not an easy one. She was born to Simon Cruz and Catalina Alfonso. This is Celia Cruz´s Story and how she achieved this legacy.Ĭruz was born Ursula Hilaria Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso on Octoin the neighborhood of Santos Suárez in Cuba’s capital city, Havana. A genuine hero who through the power of her voice was the sound of Latin Music, battled prejudice, and who spoke out against Communism in Cuba. This is the story of someone who was more than a singer and role model. She was more than an entertainer she was a symbol of hope and of freedom. Later, many younger siblings, she would often sing them to sleep.Jmarked the fifteen-year anniversary of the death of Cuba’s greatest singer and the undisputed Queen of Latin Music, Celia Cruz. (This little girl is is going to work nights! Well, my little mom wasn’t wrong).“ In an interview, Cruz once said, “ My mother, Catalina, told me that at 9 or 10 months of age I’d wake up in the middle of the night, 2 or 3 in the morning, singing ‘esta muchachita va a trabajar de noche.’ Pues la viejita no se equivocó. Her real name when she was born was Úrsula Hilaria Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso. Interesting Facts about Celia Cruz for Kids:Ĭelia Cruz was one of 14 children in her family. There is also an entire telenovela based on her life, named Celia.Ĭelia Cruz died in 2003, at 77 years old. She also was part of several films and the BBC made a documentary about there ( My Name is Celia Cruz). By the 1970’s, Cruz was well-known in New York for her salsa music, vibrant performances, and elaborate costumes. Together, they group rose in fame and broke in the mainstream music scene with their Afro-Cuban sound. In the 1960’s, Cruz joined the Tito Puente Orchestra. to become citizens instead of returning to Cuba. At the time, Cruz and the band were in Mexico. She married the trumpet player, Pedro Knight.Īfter the Cuban Revolution in 1959, Castro took over Cuba. I n 1950, she became the lead singer of the immensely popular band La Sonora Matancera, where her voice began to appear on the radio and TV, and the Tropicana Nightclub in Havana. She planned to become a teacher, but dropped out of teaching college to study at Havana’s National Conservatory of Music. ![]() Related: Famous Latinos & Hispanic Americans Home Pageįast Facts About Celia Cruz Birth: OctoBirthplace: Cuba Death: JFamily: Spouse: Pedro Knight Education: Havana National Conservatory of Music Career Highlights: Lead singer of La Sonora Matancera, Tito Puente Orchestra Legacy: Known as “The Queen of Salsa,” 75 lifetime albums 23 of which went gold.Ĭelia Cruz was born in Havana, Cuba, on October 21, 1925. You can click on any link to jump straight to that section! Here’s an index of what’s included in the post. I’ve found some great resources to make her music and story come alive for anyone who wants to learn more! This post covers the life of Celia Cruz for kids or students. ![]()
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