![]() citizen in 1961, and Fidel Castro, enraged by Cruz’s defection, barred her from returning to Cuba.Ĭruz remained relatively unknown in the United States beyond the Cuban exile community initially, but when she joined the Tito Puente Orchestra in the mid–1960s, she gained exposure to a wide audience. Commercial SuccessĪt the time of the 1959 Communist takeover of Cuba, Sonora Matancera was touring in Mexico, and members of the band decided to leave Cuba for good, crossing into the United States instead of returning to their homeland. However, Cruz helped propel the group - and Latin music in general - to new heights, and the band toured widely through Central and North America throughout the 1950s. Initially, there were doubts that Cruz could successfully replace the previous lead singer and that a woman could sell salsa records at all. In 1950, her singing career started its upward journey to stardom when she began singing with celebrated Cuban orchestra Sonora Matancera. However, instead of finding reasons for continuing on the academic track, one of Cruz’s professors convinced her that she should pursue a full-time singing career.Ĭruz’s first recordings were made in 1948. Tempering her own growing ambitions with her father’s wish for her to stay in school, she enrolled at Havana's National Conservatory of Music. ![]() Rising Musical CareerĬruz enrolled at the National Teachers’ College but dropped out soon after since her live and radio performances around were gaining acclaim. While Cruz's mother encouraged her to enter other contests around Cuba, her more traditional father had other plans for her, encouraging her to become a teacher-a common occupation for Cuban women at that time. In the 1940s, Cruz won a "La hora del té" ("Tea Time") singing contest, propelling her into a music career. Cruz grew up in the poor Havana neighborhood of Santos Suárez, where Cuba's diverse musical climate became a growing influence. Early YearsĬruz was born in Havana, Cuba on October 21, 1925. ![]() Cruz died in New Jersey in 2003, at the age of 77. Relocating to the United States after the ascent of Fidel Castro, Cruz recorded 23 gold records with Tito Puente, the Fania All-Stars and other collaborators. Celia Cruz first gained recognition in the 1950s, as a singer with the orchestra Sonora Matancera. ![]()
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