Celia Cruz

Birth Name:

Ursula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso

Birth Place:

Havana, Cuba

Profession

Soundtrack, Actress

Won a Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Performance for "Ritmo en el Corazón" in 1989 and later won the first Latin Grammy Award for Best Tropical Album in 2000
Made more than 75 albums during her career, 20 of which were gold certified
Was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts by the National Endowment of the Arts in 1994
Because her father wished for her to stay in school and choose a more "traditional" career, she attended the National Teachers' College and the National Conservatory of Music, but eventually dropped out to pursue a full-time singing career
Began her music career in the 1940s, when she began winning singing contests in Cuba like the "La hora del té․"
Began recording her music in 1948 and joined the Cuban orchestra Sonora Matancera in 1950, where she first became successful with Cuban audiences
Quote: "When people hear me sing, I want them to be happy, happy, happy․ I don't want them thinking about when there's not any money, or when there's fighting at home․ My message is always felicidad - happiness․"
After becoming a U․S․ citizen in 1961 due to the Fidel Castro's Communist takeover of Cuba, she began touring with the Tito Puente Orchestra, where she gained popularity with U․S․ audiences
Best known as a salsa signer and performer often referred to as the "Queen of Salsa" and the "Queen of Latin Music․"
Her catchphrase "Azucar!," meaning "sugar," was an allusion to the African slaves who had worked on sugar plantations in Cuba

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