Celia Cruz Trivia

Celia Cruz is a legendary salsa singer, who ruled Latin American music like a Queen.

Celia Cruz was born on October 21st, 1924 in Santos Suarez, Havana, Cuba.

Celia Cruz’s birth name is Ursula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso.

Celia Cruz was born to Catalina Alfonso and Simon Cruz, a railroad employee.

Celia Cruz’s father wanted Celia to become a Spanish language teacher.

Celia Cruz was inspired by the music of Paulina Alvarez, Arcano y sus Maravillas, Fernando Collazo, Arsenio Rodriguez, Abelardo Barroso, and Pablo Quevedo.

Celia Cruz’s aunt used to frequently take Celia to cabarets and make her sing.

Celia Cruz began her singing career at Havana’s radio station Radio Garcia-Serra’s popular “Hora del Te” [Teatime] broadcast.

Celia Cruz in the year 1950 joined renowned Cuban band “La Sonora Matancera”.

Celia Cruz was asked to take the place of one of their lead singers who quit “La Sonora Matancera”.

Celia Cruz for the next fifteen years toured with the band and traveled all over Latin America.

Celia Cruz moved to United States as Fidel Castro assumed power in Cuba in the year 1960.

Celia Cruz received US citizenship in the year 1961.

Celia Cruz teamed up with Tito Puente, ‘The King of Latin Music’ and brought out eight albums under Tico Records label.

Celia Cruz joined ‘Fania All Stars’ [owned by Vaya Records], an ensemble band formed to bring salsa musicians together under one group.

Celia Cruz performed with “Fania All Stars” in several countries like England, France, Zaire and other Latin American countries and appeared in several local television shows in countries she toured.

Celia Cruz’s singing and acting career spanned over 60 years from 1940 to till her death in 2003.

Celia Cruz has released more than 75 albums, of which 23 have been certified Gold.

Celia Cruz has won 3 Grammy Awards for: Best Tropical Latin Performance for “Ritmo En El Corazon” [With Ray Barretto] in 1990; Best Salsa Album “La Negra Tiene Tumbao” [The Black Girl Has Rhythm] in 2003; and Best Salsa/Merengue Album “Regalo Del Alma” [Gift From The Soul] in 2003.

Celia Cruz has won 4 Latin Grammy Awards for: Best Salsa Performance “Celia Cruz and Friends: A Night Of Salsa” in 2000; Best Tropical Tradicional Album “Siempre Vivire” [I Will Always Live] in 2001; Best Salsa Album “La Negra Tiene Tumbao” in 2002; and Best Salsa Album “Regalo Del Alma” in 2004 received posthumously.

Celia Cruz earned the nicknames of “Salsa Queen” and “La guarachera de Cuba”.

Celia Cruz took salsa music to new heights by integrating all forms of music such as pop, rock Latin jazz and dance into her own style during her shows and performances.

Celia Cruz died of malignant brain tumor on July 16th, 2003 at her home in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

Celia Cruz was survived by her husband Pedro Knight and close friend Dwayne B.

Celia Cruz’s mortal remains were taken to Miami to lie in state in downtown Miami’s Freedom Tower to allow innumerable fans to pay their last respects.

Celia Cruz’s mortal remains were later brought to New York to allow her hundreds and thousands of fans to pay their last respects.

Celia Cruz was finally laid to rest at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx.

Celia Cruz has appeared in films and television series such as “Rincon criollo” [1950], “Affair in Havana” [1957], “Amorcito corazon” [Amorcito heart: 1961], “Venganza de la momia, La” [The Revenge of the Mummy: 1973], “Juegos de sociedad” [Games of society:1974], “The Mambo Kings” [1992], “The Perez Family” [1995], “The Perez Family” [1995]; and television series like “Premier Orfeon” [1964], “Roque Santeiro” [1985], “Valentina” [1993], “Alma no tiene color, El” [1997], and “Latino NY Live” [1998].

Celia Cruz has appeared in ’70s in an Eastern Air Lines commercial in Puerto Rico, singing the catchy phrase ¡Esto sí es volar! [This really is flying!!!].

Celia Cruz received National Medal of Arts award from President Bill Clinton in 1994.

Celia Cruz was married to Pedro Knight from July 14th, 1962 to until her death on July 16th, 2003.

Celia Cruz has a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame and Miami’s Walk of Fame.

Celia Cruz used to shout ‘Azucar!’ [Sugar] every time she came on stage.