Celia Cruz

Celia Cruz (October 21, 1925 – July 16, 2003) was a Cuban-American salsa performer. She earned twenty-three gold albums. She was called the "Queen of Salsa" as well as "La Guarachera de Cuba."

Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz in Paris, France, April 1980
Background information
Birth name	Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso
Also known as	La Reina de la Salsa, La Guarachera de Cuba
Born	(1925-10-21)October 21, 1925 Havana, Cuba
Died	July 16, 2003(2003-07-16) (aged 77) Fort Lee, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres	Salsa, bolero
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	1948–2003
Labels	Fania Records, RMM Records & Video, Sony Discos
Associated acts	Sonora Matancera, Fania All-Stars
Website	Official website

She spent most of her career living in New Jersey. She worked in the United States and several Latin American countries. Leila Cobo of Billboard Magazine once said "Cruz is indisputably the best known and most influential female figure in the history of Cuban music."

Discography

2003 Homenaje a Beny Moré 2003 Celia & Johnny 2003 Dios Disfrute a la Reina 2003 Son Boleros, Boleros Son 2003 Reina de la Música Cubana 2003 Regalo del Alma 2003 Más Grande Historia Jamás Cantada 2003 Estrellas de la Sonora Matancera 2003 Celia in the House: Classic Hits Remixed 2003 Carnaval de la Vida 2003 Candela Pura 2002 Unrepeatable 2002 Hits Mix 2001 La Negra Tiene Tumbao 2000 Siempre Viviré 2000 Salsa 2000 Habanera 2000 Celia Cruz and Friends: A Night of Salsa 1999 En Vivo Radio Progreso, Vol. 3 1999 En Vivo Radio Progreso, Vol. 2 1999 En Vivo Radio Progreso, Vol. 1 1999 En Vivo C.M.Q., Vol. 5 1999 En Vivo C.M.Q., Vol. 4 1998 Mi Vida Es Cantar

1998 Afro-Cubana 1997 También Boleros 1997 Duets 1997 Cambiando Ritmos 1996 Celia Cruz Delta 1995 Irresistible 1995 Festejando Navidad 1995 Double Dynamite 1995 Cuba's Queen of Rhythm 1994 Merengue Saludos Amigos 1994 Mambo del Amor 1994 Irrepetible 1994 Homenaje a Los Santos 1994 Guaracheras de La Guaracha 1993 Introducing 1993 Homenaje a Beny Moré, Vol. 3 1993 Boleros Polydor 1993 Azucar Negra 1992 Verdadera Historia 1992 Tributo a Ismael Rivera 1991 Reina del Ritmo Cubano 1991 Canta Celia Cruz 1990 Guarachera del Mundo 1988 Ritmo en el Corazón 1987 Winners 1986 De Nuevo

1986 Candela 1983 Tremendo Trío 1982 Feliz Encuentro 1981 Celia & Willie 1980 Celia/Johnny/Pete 1977 Only They Could Have Made This Album 1976 Recordando El Ayer 1975 Tremendo Caché 1974 Celia & Johnny 1971 Celia Y Tito Puente en España 1970 Etc. Etc. Etc. 1969 Quimbo Quimbumbia 1968 Serenata Guajira 1968 Excitante 1967 A Ti México 1967 Bravo Celia Cruz 1966 Son con Guaguancó 1966 Cuba Y Puerto Rico Son 1965 Sabor y Ritmo de Pueblos 1965 Canciones Premiadas 1959 Mi Diario Musical 1958 Incomparable Celia

Grammy awards

Year	Nominated work	Award	Result
1989	"Ritmo En El Corazon"	Best Tropical Latin Performance	Won
2000	Celia Cruz and Friends: A Night of Salsa	Best Salsa Performance	Won
2001	"Siempre Viviré"	Best Tropical Traditional Album	Won
2002	La Negra Tiene Tumbao	Best Salsa Album	Won
2003	La Negra Tiene Tumbao	Best Salsa Album	Won
2003	Regalo del Alma	Best Salsa/Merengue Album	Won
2004	Regalo del Alma	Best Salsa Album	Won

Celia Cruz Media

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  Celia Cruz in the 1950s with the members of the Sonora Matancera in Havana

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  Celia Cruz performing in Paris at the Olympia in 1980

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  Celia Cruz's mausoleum in Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx, New York

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  Celia Cruz Plaza in Union City, New Jersey