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Celia Cruz
A Tribute to the "Queen of Salsa"
1926 - 2003
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by Marcia Stevenson
 Celia
Cruz was Cuba's top female entertainer who, ironically, was banned from ever
returning to her homeland. In 1959, while performing in Mexico she escaped
to the United States and publicly denounced Fidel Castro. In return, he refused
to ever let her visit Cuba again, not even to attend her parent's funerals.
A woman with incredible strength and determination, Celia continued
to create the music of her heritage for more than forty years. Nominated for
twenty Grammy Awards, Celia's powerful voice can be heard on hundreds of recordings.
In recent interviews she mentioned that she would never retire.
Often referred to as the "Queen of Salsa" or the "Diva of Afro-Cuban
Music", she felt honored that she was still able to share her gift. Her
recent 2002 Latin Grammy Award proved that her music is an integral part of
the world music scene.
Her relationship with many LP artists, including her contemporary, Tito
Puente was authentic. They were the type of musicians who shared the
sounds of their cultures and connected the world together through music.
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