Celia cruz kids biography

Cuban singer (1925–2003)

In this Land name, the first or paternal surname is Cruz and the in no time at all or maternal family name shambles Alfonso.

Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso^[a] (21 October 1925 – 16 July 2003), known as Celia Cruz, was a Cuban chanteuse and one of the crest popular Latin artists of primacy 20th century.

Cruz rose work to rule fame in Cuba during greatness 1950s as a singer comprehensive guarachas, earning the nickname "La Guarachera de Cuba". In significance following decades, she became painstaking internationally as the "Queen be more or less Salsa" due to her hand-out to Latin music.^[4][5][6] She difficult to understand sold over 10 million annals, making her one of decency best-selling Latin music artists.^[7]

The head began her career in second home country Cuba, earning acknowledgement as a vocalist of rectitude popular musical group Sonora Matancera, a musical association that lasted 15 years (1950–1965).

Cruz perfect a wide variety of Afro-Cuban music styles including guaracha, foxtrot, afro, son and bolero, tape numerous singles in these styles for Seeco Records. In 1960, after the Cuban Revolution caused the nationalization of the descant industry, Cruz left her wild country, becoming one of interpretation symbols and spokespersons of influence Cuban community in exile.^[8] Cruz continued her career, first condemn Mexico, and then in integrity United States, the country give it some thought she took as her determining residence.

In the 1960s, she collaborated with Tito Puente, disc her signature tune "Bemba colorá". In the 1970s, she subscribed for Fania Records and became strongly associated with the salsa genre, releasing hits such similarly "Quimbara". She often appeared hold out with Fania All-Stars and collaborated with Johnny Pacheco and Willie Colón.

During the last maturity of her career, Cruz elongated to release successful songs specified as "La vida es dry run carnaval" and "La negra tiene tumbao".^[9]

Her musical legacy is forced up of a total draw round 37 studio albums, as on top form as numerous live albums put forward collaborations. Throughout her career, she was awarded numerous prizes swallow distinctions, including two Grammy Brownie points and three Latin Grammy Brownie points.

In addition to her copious career in music, Cruz likewise made several appearances as protest actress in movies and telenovelas. Her catchphrase "¡Azúcar!" ("Sugar!") has become one of the accumulate recognizable symbols of salsa descant.

Early life

Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso was born on 21 Oct 1925, at 47 Serrano Classification in the Santos Suárez locality of Havana, Cuba.^[10][3][11] Her ecclesiastic, Simón Cruz, was a face stoker, and her mother, Catalina Alfonso Ramos, a housewife accord Haitian descent who took interest of an extended family.^[3] Celia was one of the issue among fourteen children living establish the house, including cousins title her three siblings, Dolores, Gladys, and Bárbaro,^[12][13] and she castoff to sing cradle songs approval put them to sleep.^[11] According to her mother, she began singing as a child varnish 9 or 10 months uphold age, often in the central part of the night.^[11][14] She too sang in school during goodness Fridays' actos cívicos and mediate her neighborhood ensemble, Botón catch sight of oro.^[11]

While growing up in Cuba's diverse 1930s musical climate, Cruz listened to many musicians who influenced her adult career, plus Fernando Collazo, Abelardo Barroso, Pablo Quevedo, Antonio Arcaño and Arsenio Rodríguez.^[6] Despite her father's correlation and the fact that she was Catholic, as a descendant Cruz learned Santería songs plant her neighbor who practiced Santería.^[15] Cruz also studied the enlighten to Yoruba songs with confrere Merceditas Valdés (an akpwon, orderly Santería singer) from Cuba folk tale later made various recordings shambles this religious genre, even musical backup for other akpwons regard Candita Batista.

As a young lady, her aunt took her perch her cousin to cabarets lend your energies to sing, but her father pleased her to attend school pathway the hope she would follow a teacher. After high grammar, she attended the Normal Primary for Teachers in Havana added the intent of becoming uncluttered literature teacher.^[16] At the sicken being a singer was cry viewed as an entirely decent career.

However, one of afflict teachers told her that, reorganization an entertainer, she could yield in one day what principal Cuban teachers earned in dinky month. From 1947, Cruz spurious music theory, voice, and softly at Havana's National Conservatory check Music.^[17]

One day, her cousin took her to Havana's radio opinion Radio García-Serra, where she became a contestant in the "Hora del té" amateur radio curriculum.

It was her first in advance using a microphone and she sang the tango "Nostalgia" (as a tribute to Paulina Álvarez^[6]), winning a cake as probity first prize for her performance.^[11] On other occasions she won silver chains, as well though opportunities to participate in broaden contests.^[18] She also sang footpath other amateur radio programs specified as La suprema corte depict arte, broadcast by CMQ, at all times winning first prize.

The one and only exception was when she competed against Vilma Valle, having take home split their earnings: 25 pocket each.^[11]

In 2004, the Miami Herald revealed from partially declassified Proper State Department papers that Cruz had been linked to Cuba's pre-Revolution communist party, the Usual Socialist Party (PSP), as completely as the 1940s.^[19] The crumb, promoted as an "exclusive", was written by Miami Herald announcer Carol Rosenberg from Freedom accomplish Information Act requests.

It uncomplicated several revelations. Among them, ethics US Embassy in Havana denied Cruz a US visa interpolate 1952 and 1955 because swallow suspected communist affiliations. The former also states that Cruz confidential joined the youth wing mimic the PSP at age 20 and had used a agreement to arrange a secret consultation with communists in South Land on behalf of its fuel general secretary, Blas Roca Calderío, who has also founded rank party in 1925.

Cruz esoteric also signed a public murder in support of one observe the Party's front groups, glory Pro-Peace Congress. The article states that Cruz's surviving husband, Pedro Knight, was asked about that, and is quoted he knew nothing about it. "She not in a million years told me about that. She never talked about politics," interpretation article quotes Knight.^[20]

Career

First recordings

Isolina Carrillo was one of the crowning people to recognize Cruz's weighing scale to sing Afro-Cuban music current asked her to join disgruntlement Conjunto Siboney, where Olga Guillot also sang.^[21] She later wedded conjugal Orquesta de Ernesto Duarte, Gloria Matancera, Sonora Caracas and Orquesta Anacaona.

From 1947, she in operation to sing in Havana's peak popular cabarets: Tropicana, Sans Souci, Bamboo, Topeka, etc.^[11] In 1948, Roderico Rodney Neyra founded probity group of dancers and vocalists burden Las Mulatas de Fuego (The Fiery Mulattas).^[22][23][24] Cruz was leased with this group as span singer, reaching great success don making presentations in Mexico enjoin Venezuela, where she made lose control first recordings.

Shortly thereafter, Cruz began to sing on harmonious programs at Radio Cadena Suaritos, along with a group turn this way performed Santería music under character direction of Obdulio Morales. Confront this group, known as Coro Yoruba y Tambores Batá, she made several recordings that were later released by Panart.

Sonora Matancera

Cruz's big break came preparation 1950 when Myrta Silva, influence singer with Cuba's Sonora Matancera, returned to her native Puerto Rico.

Since they were detect need of a new soloist, the band decided to explore the young Celia Cruz wonderful chance. She auditioned in June, and at the end deduction July she was asked halt join as lead singer,^[25] discipline thus became the group's prime black frontwoman.^[26] In her chief rehearsal with Sonora Matancera, Cruz met her future husband Pedro Knight, who was the band's second trumpeter.

Cruz debuted hostile to the group on 3 Grand 1950. Initially, Cruz was put together received with enthusiasm by birth public, but Rogelio Martínez confidential faith in her. On 15 December 1950, Cruz recorded quota first songs with the genre, which were a resounding come after. Her "musical marriage" with rectitude Sonora Matancera lasted fifteen maturity.

In total Celia recorded 188 songs with the Matancera, containing hits such as "Cao cao maní picao", "Mata siguaraya", "Burundanga" and "El yerbero moderno". She won her first gold commit to paper for "Burundanga", making her be in first place trip to the United States in 1957 to receive glory award and to perform heroic act St. Nicholas Arena, New York.^[11] During her 15 years second-hand goods Sonora Matancera, she appeared amuse cameos in some Mexican pictures such as Rincón criollo (1950), Una gallega en La Habana (1955) and Amorcito corazón (1961), toured all over Latin Ground and became a regular turnup for the books the Tropicana.

Exile and Tico recordings

Cruz was touring in Mexico when Fidel Castro seized energy at the conclusion of nobleness Cuban Revolution. She returned bring out Cuba to find her hometown of Havana in turmoil significant mostly shut down.^[27] Cruz was publicly critical of Castro, uncomplicated stance that she knew would endanger her career and peradventure her freedom, since other critics of the regime were usually arrested.

She also needed hard cash to pay for her shortcoming mother's medical expenses, and just as she was offered a sphere to perform for a passive months at La Terraza Discotheque in Mexico City, she conventional. Cruz left Cuba on 15 July 1960, not knowing dump she would likely never repay to her home country.^[28]

Just solitary week after arriving in Mexico, Cruz received the news be advisable for the death of her pa, Simón Cruz.

In 1961, Cruz and Sonora Matancera left Mexico for an engagement in birth United States. During this edit, Cruz began performing solo needful of the group, performing at elegant recital at the Hollywood Metal in Los Angeles.

In 1962, before the refusal of goodness Cuban government to allow unit to return to Cuba, Cruz acquired a house in Sore Lee, New Jersey.

Although she tried to return to Island to see her sick ormal, who was struggling with ultimate bladder cancer, the Cuban create denied her request to return.^[29] On 7 April 1962, she received the news of rendering death of her mother Catalina Alfonso. That same year, hindrance 14 July, Cruz was spliced in civil ceremony with Pedro Knight after a romance condemn several years.

Cruz and Sonora Matancera made their first twine outside of the Americas, staying Europe and Japan, where they performed with Tito Puente. Note 1965, Cruz would culminate deft vertiginous fifteen years with honesty Sonora Matancera. Cruz began well-ordered solo career and her keep Pedro Knight decided to walk out on his position at Sonora Matancera to become her representative, transcriber and personal director.

During that time, Cruz became an Dweller citizen.

In 1966, Cruz was contacted by Tito Puente identify perform with his orchestra. Their first collaborative album, Son big shot guaguancó featured a recording observe José Claro Fumero's guaracha "Bemba colorá", which became one carryon Cruz's signature songs.^[26] Cruz submit Puente went on to assist on another four albums abridged.

She also recorded albums anti other musical directors such whilst Memo Salamanca, Juan Bruno Tarraza and Lino Frías for Tico Records. In 1974, Fania Registry, the leading salsa record marker, acquired Tico and signed Cruz to the imprint Vaya Archives, where she remained until 1992.

The Fania years

Cruz's association enter the Fania label had going on in 1973, when she canned the lead vocals of "Gracia divina", a song by Larry Harlow which was part take away his "Latin opera" Hommy.

She then joined the Fania All-Stars, a salsa supergroup featuring primacy most popular performers of class Fania roster. With them, Cruz first sang "Bemba colorá" extract "Diosa del ritmo" in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1973. She later travelled with glory group to Kinshasa, Zaire, cede 1974 and returned to San Juan in 1975 for all over the place concert.

These live recordings were commercially released years later. Spread performance in Zaire, as undermine of The Rumble in character Jungle event, was included concern the film Soul Power.^[30]

Cruz filmed her first studio album send for Fania in 1974 in satisfaction with Johnny Pacheco, the label's founder and musical director.

Righteousness album, Celia & Johnny, fairy story its lead single, "Quimbara", were both a commercial success. In good health 1976, she participated in authority documentary film Salsa about Serious culture, along with figures need Dolores del Río and Willie Colón. The following year she recorded her first LP inert Colón, a collaboration that would be repeated with great go well in 1981 and 1987.

Just as touring with Colón, Cruz wore a flamboyant costume, which charade various colored wigs, tight jeweled dresses, and very high heels. Her fashion style became and over famous that one of them was acquired by the Smithsonian institution.^[16] In the late Decennary, she participated in an Adapt Air Lines commercial in Puerto Rico, singing the catchy locution ¡Esto sí es volar! (This is to truly fly!).

Cruz also used to sing rectitude identifying spot for WQBA broadcast station in Miami, formerly manifest as "La Cubanísima": "I goo the voice of Cuba, evade this land, far away...I jam liberty, I am WQBA, authority most Cuban!" (Yo soy session Cuba, la voz, desde esta tierra lejana... ¡soy libertad, legume WQBA, Cubanísima!).

In 1982, Celia was reunited with the Sonora Matancera and recorded the baby book Feliz Encuentro. That year, picture singer received the first honour of her career at President Square Garden in New Royalty. In 1987, Cruz performed pure concert in Santa Cruz prejudiced Tenerife. That concert was infamous by the publisher of probity Guinness Book of Records because the largest free-entry outdoor interrupt, with an audience of 250,000 people.

In 1988, she participated in the feature film Salsa alongside Robby Draco Rosa. Seep in 1990, Cruz won her precede Grammy Award (Best Tropical Model Performance) for her album Ritmo en el corazón, recorded refurbish Ray Barretto. She was further invited to celebrate the Lxv anniversary of the Sonora Matancera in Central Park in Spanking York.

The decline of Fania's brand of salsa dura get the picture favor of the emergent salsa romántica gradually brought an preposterous to Celia's musical association ready to go the Fania All Stars. Their final reunions took place deceive Puerto Rico (1994) and Colombia (1995), both of which were released on CD.

Later years

In 1990, Cruz managed to come to Cuba.

She was appreciated to make a presentation mass the Guantanamo Bay Naval Example. When she came out help this presentation she took practised few grams of Cuban begrime in a bag; at multipart request, this bag would after be placed in her coffer when she died. In 1994, she received the National Capacity for the Arts award getaway the then President Bill Politico, which is the highest gratitude granted by the United States government to an artist.^[31] Securing made musical presentations in Mexican and Cuban films, in 1992 Celia participated as an team member actor in the American film Mambo Kings, along with Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas.

A harvest later she made her opening as a television actress regulate the Mexican telenovelaValentina, along meet Verónica Castro for the Televisa network. In 1995, Celia effortless a guest appearance in greatness American film The Perez Family, along with Alfred Molina courier Anjelica Huston. In 1997, she starred again for Televisa delete the Mexican telenovela El alma no tiene color, a reassemble of the classic Mexican single Angelitos negros.

Cruz played rank role of a black female who gives birth to marvellous white daughter. On 25 Oct 1997, the city of San Francisco, California, officially declared go wool-gathering date as "Celia Cruz Day".

In 1998, she released significance album Mi vida es cantar, which featured one of brush aside most successful songs, La vida es un carnaval.

In 1999, she performed with Luciano Tenor for the Pavarotti and Friends concert. In 2000, Cruz unconfined a new album under influence auspices of Sony Music, Celia Cruz and Friends: A Casual of Salsa, where she prerecorded again with Tito Puente, who died shortly after. Thanks say nice things about this album, Cruz was awarded her first Latin Grammy.

Affluent 2001, the album Siempre viviré won her a second Person Grammy. In that same harvest, she performed with Marc Suffragist in a tribute to Aretha Franklin for VH1. In 2002, Cruz released the album, La negra tiene tumbao, where she ventured into modern variants lady Caribbean rhythms, influenced by discharge and hip hop.

For that record she won her gear Latin Grammy and her more American Grammy.

On 16 July 2002, Cruz performed to systematic full house at the natural outdoor performing arts festival Inside Park SummerStage in New Dynasty City. During the performance she sang "Bemba colorá". A subsist recording of this song was subsequently made available in 2005 on a commemorative CD infatuation the festival's then 20-year description entitled, "Central Park SummerStage: Accommodation from the Heart of justness City".

Cruz appeared on authority Dionne Warwick albums Dionne Sings Dionne and My Friends & Me with their Latin duo version of "(Do You Be versed The Way To) San José".

Death

In August and September 2002, Cruz underwent surgery due taint breast cancer.^[32] In November rove year, Cruz fell during put in order concert in Mexico.

She was diagnosed with glioma, an belligerent form of brain cancer, direct underwent surgery in December.^[32] Convinced, Cruz said she did gather together shed one tear and delay she was aiming to backslide her artistic career.^[32] She ready recording her last album, Regalo del Alma.

In February, she appeared in public again invective the 45th Annual Grammy Credit to receive the award ration Best Salsa Album.^[32] In Pace 2003, the US Hispanic mesh Telemundo paid tribute to contain. The event, titled ¡Celia Cruz: Azúcar!, involved figures such slightly Gloria Estefan, Marc Anthony, Unemotional India, Gloria Gaynor and Patti LaBelle among others.^[33][34] This was her last public appearance.

On the afternoon of 16 July 2003, Cruz died at brush aside home in Fort Lee, Another Jersey, at the age appreciated 77. At her express require, her mortal remains were chief transferred to Miami for join days to receive the deference of her Cuban exile admirers at Gesu Church, before spruce funeral Mass at St.

Patrick's Cathedral and burial in magnanimity Woodlawn Cemetery in The Borough, New York.^{[35][36][37][38][39]} An epilogue profit her autobiography notes that, anxiety accordance with her wishes, State soil - which she difficult saved from a visit disapproval Guantánamo Bay - was secondhand in her entombment.^[40][41][42]

Tributes and legacy

Cruz's legacy had been honored nurse years before her death, with a star on the Tone Walk of Fame (1987), position asteroid name 5212 Celiacruz (1989),^[43] the Excellence Awards at dignity 1990 Lo Nuestro Awards,^[44] be first Celia Cruz Way in Metropolis (1991).

She was also authorized with a star on Roadway Amador Bendayán in Caracas, Venezuela, and a figure in magnanimity Hollywood Wax Museum. Besides, Cruz received three Honoris Causa doctorates from three universities in illustriousness United States: Yale University, Florida International University and the Tradition of Miami.^[45] Cruz, along criticize fellow Afro-Cuban musician Cachao, were inducted into the Billboard Roman Music Hall of Fame hill 1994.^[46] She was also inducted into the International Latin Tune euphony Hall of Fame in 1999.^[47] In the same year, she was presented with the ASCAP Latin Heritage Award becoming distinction first recipient of the accolade.^[48]

Through a formidable work ethic, Cruz rose to the very outperform in her genre.^[49] In Feb 2004, her last album, Regalo del Alma, she won wonderful posthumous award at the Premios Lo Nuestro for best salsa release of the year.

Consumption was announced in December 2005 that a musical called ¡Azúcar! would open in Tenerife heretofore touring the world. The fame comes from Cruz's well-known receive phrase of "¡Azúcar!" (“Sugar!”).

In 2003, a music school was opened in the Bronx, dubbed the Celia Cruz Bronx Towering School of Music.

Pedro Horseman visited this school before top death to meet the lesson and share stories about bitterness life. On June 4, 2004, the heavily Cuban-American community work at Union City, New Jersey heralded its annual Cuban Day Promenade by dedicating its new Celia Cruz Park (also known type Celia Cruz Plaza), which hick a sidewalk star in amass honor, at 31st Street humbling Bergenline Avenue, with Cruz's widowman, Pedro Knight, present.

There absolute four other similar dedications fight back Cruz around the world.^[50] Cruz's star has expanded into Wholeness accord City's "Walk of Fame",^[51] sort new marble stars are further each spring to honor Italic entertainment and media personalities, much as merengue singer Joseíto Mateo, salsa singer La India, Cachao, Cuban tenorBeny Moré,^[52]Tito Puente, Romance language television news anchor Rafael Pineda, salsa pioneer Johnny Pacheco,^[53] singer/bandleader Gilberto Santa Rosa extra music promoter Ralph Mercado.^[54]

On 18 May 2005, the National Museum of American History, administered through the Smithsonian Institution and transpire in Washington, D.C., opened "¡Azúcar!", an exhibit celebrating the assured and music of Celia Cruz.

The exhibit highlights important moments in Cruz's life and existence through photographs, personal documents, costumes, videos, and music. Her memoir Celia: Mi vida was likewise published in 2005, based draw somebody in more than 500 hours fall foul of interviews with the Mexican newsman Ana Cristina Reymundo.

The newspaperwoman and TV presenter Cristina Saralegui planned to take the recital of her life to ethics cinema and the American contestant Whoopi Goldberg, admirer of distinction singer, expressed her interest in vogue representing her, but the activity was cancelled.^[55] From 26 Sept 2007 to 25 May 2008, Celia, a musical based conceited the life of Celia Cruz, played at the Off-Broadway location New World Stages.

The suggest won four 2008 HOLA Commendation from the Hispanic Organization curst Latin Actors.^[56]

On 16 March 2011, Celia Cruz was honored from one side to the ot the United States Postal Talk with a commemorative postage stamp.^[57] The Cruz stamp was tighten up of a group of quintuplet stamps honoring Latin music greats, also including Selena, Tito Puente, Carmen Miranda, and Carlos Gardel.

The Smithsonian's National Museum duplicate American History collaborated with artist Robert Weingarten to create nourish object-based portrait of Celia Cruz featuring artifacts in the museum. The portrait was unveiled bluster 3 October 2012.^[58]

On 21 Oct 2013, Google honored her right a Google Doodle.^[59]Jennifer Lopez prestigious Cruz with her presentation timepiece the 41st American Music Distinction ceremony.^[60] The singers Yuri, Cold India, Maluma and Aymée Nuviola did the same at depiction Latin American Music Awards.

Extremely in 2013, Cruz was inducted into the New Jersey Arrival Fame.^[59] In October 2015, Telemundo premiered an 80-episode docu-drama home-grown on Cruz's life, Celia.^[61]

In 2015, the television networks RCN Televisión and Telemundo produced the Small screen series Celia based on magnanimity life of Crus.

Cruz was played by the actresses Jeimy Osorio and Aymée Nuviola obscure counted on the voice have possession of Patty Padilla.^[61] In 2019, Angélique Kidjo released a tribute recording to Cruz, entitled Celia, inclusive of songs spanning all of Cruz's career reinvented with an Afrobeat feel.

It features Tony Filmmaker (musician), Meshell Ndegeocello and decency Gangbé Brass Band.^[62]

In 2018, grand monument to Cruz was expose in the Cuban Heritage Parkland in Hialeah, Florida.^[63][64] Also expose 2018, the Celia Cruz Holdings launched a brand inspired incite Cruz which featured merchandise ecstatic and about Cruz.^[65]

In 2019, Chilean-American poet Marjorie Agosin created neat chamber music theatre performance entitled "Las Magníficas" (The Magnificent Ones), based on the life encourage Celia Cruz and Chilean singer-songwriter Violeta Parra.^[66][67]

On 2 June 2021, New York City honored Celia Cruz by co-naming the carrefour of Reservoir Avenue and Familiarize 195th Street in the Kingsbridge Heights section of The Borough, near the high school stray is the named in multiple honor, "Celia Cruz Way".^[68][69]Los Angeles has also named the crossroad of Hollywood Boulevard and Argyles Avenue after her.^{[citation needed]}

In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Cruz take care No.

18 on their link up with of the 200 Greatest Chorus of All Time.^[70] In Feb 2023, Cruz was selected primate an honoree in the 2024 American Women quarter program, invention her the first Afro-Latina give permission appear on a U.S quarter.^[71][72]

Discography

Cruz recorded with Seeco Records jab 1965 and with Tico Chronicles from 1966 through 1972.

Afterwards, she recorded with Vaya Registers and with its parent attendance, Fania Records.

Filmography

• Salón México (Mexico, 1950)
• Una gallega en La Habana (Mexico, 1952)
• ¡Olé...

  Cuba! (Mexico/Cuba, 1957)

• Affair in Havana (USA/Cuba, 1957)
• Amorcito Corazón (Mexico, 1960)
• Salsa (Documentary, 1976)
• Salsa (USA, 1988)
• "Fires Within" (USA, 1991)
• The Mambo Kings (USA, 1992)
• Valentina (TV) (Mexico, 1993)
• The Perez Family (USA, 1995) Luz Pat
• El alma no tiene color (TV) (Mexico, 1997)
• ¡Celia Cruz: Azúcar! (TV) (Tribute, USA, 2003)
• Soul Power (Documentary of Kinshasa, Zaire Music Holy day 1974) (USA, 2008)
• CELIA, Celia Cruz Bio-Drama (2015 on Telemundo)

Awards

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annual by the National Academy star as Recording Arts and Sciences detect the United States.

Celia Cruz has received two awards come across fourteen nominations, as well importance a non-competitive Lifetime Achievement award.^[73]

Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

The Grammy Interval Achievement Award is presented concentrate on those who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions remind you of outstanding artistic significance to excellence field of recording.

Celia Cruz won the award in 2016.

Latin Grammy Awards

A Latin Grammy Award is an accolade through the Latin Academy of Fasten Arts & Sciences to assert outstanding achievement in the concerto industry. Celia Cruz has won four awards out of sevener nominations.

Cruz is also birth recipient of the president's Folk Medal of Arts.^[74][72]

See also

Notes post references

Notes

References