Celia Cruz: The Queen of Salsa and Her Legendary Centennial

¡Azúcar! One Hundred Years of Celia Cruz

On October 21, 2025, the world celebrated the centennial of Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso — the woman who turned a shout, ¡Azúcar!, into a universal anthem. Born in the Santos Suárez neighborhood of Havana, Celia didn’t just dominate salsa: she defined it.

More than two decades after her passing, her legacy burns brighter than ever. Exhibitions in Miami, Grammy tributes, and Billboard honors throughout 2025 confirmed what millions already knew: Celia Cruz is eternal.

From Santos Suárez to the World

Celia grew up in a bustling household with fourteen children — siblings and cousins combined. Her father, a railway stoker, dreamed she’d become a teacher. But music called louder than any classroom.

She studied music theory, voice, and piano at the National Conservatory of Music in Havana. She won radio contests on CMQ during Cuba’s golden age of broadcasting and soon caught the attention of Cuba’s most famous orchestra.

Sonora Matancera: Fifteen Years of Glory

In 1950, Celia joined Sonora Matancera, replacing Myrta Silva as lead vocalist. The partnership lasted fifteen years and produced dozens of legendary recordings. With la Sonora, Celia mastered the guaracha, Cuban son, bolero, and rumba.

“When I stood in front of the microphone with la Sonora, I felt all of Cuba was singing with me.”

Exile: Pain and Reinvention

In 1960, after the Cuban Revolution nationalized the music industry, Celia left Cuba. She never returned. When her mother died in 1962, the government denied her permission to attend the funeral.

That pain marked her life but also fueled her art. She settled in the United States, married trumpeter Pedro Knight — her inseparable companion until the end — and launched a second career that would eclipse the first.

The Fania Era: Birth of the Queen of Salsa

In the 1970s, Celia signed with Fania Records, the label that defined New York salsa. Alongside Johnny Pacheco, Willie Colón, and the legendary Fania All-Stars, Celia recorded immortal classics:

• “Quimbara” — Perhaps her most recognizable song, an explosion of pure energy
• “Bemba colorá” — With Tito Puente, an electric collaboration
• “La vida es un carnaval” — A philosophy of life set to music
• “La negra tiene tumbao” — Her last great hit, recorded at age 77

With over 30 million records sold and 37 studio albums, Celia became one of the most successful Latin artists in history.

More Than Music: A Cultural Symbol

Celia Cruz transcended music. She was:

• Voice of the Cuban exile, without letting political bitterness consume her
• Icon of Afro-Cuban identity, proud of her Yoruba roots and her connection to Santería
• Feminist pioneer, dominating a male-dominated musical world
• Cultural ambassador, earning the U.S. National Medal of Arts (1994) and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1987)

Her extravagant wardrobe — monumental wigs, dazzling dresses, impossible shoes — was a declaration: joy as an act of resistance.

The Centennial: 2025, the Year of Celia

Celia’s hundredth birthday sparked a wave of tributes:

• Billboard Latin Women in Music dedicated a special tribute performance
• The Coral Gables Museum in Miami opened a photographic exhibition with never-before-seen images by Alexis Rodríguez-Duarte and Tico Torres (open through February 21, 2026)
• The Museum of Art and Design at Miami Dade mounted “CELIA: Work”, celebrating her visual legacy
• The Smithsonian published an extensive feature on her enduring legacy

Why Does It Matter Now?

At a time when Cuba faces its worst crisis in decades — record blackouts, fuel shortages, mass exodus — the figure of Celia Cruz takes on special meaning. She embodies Cuban resilience: turning pain into art, exile into triumph, nostalgia into celebration.

Eternal Legacy

Celia Cruz died on July 16, 2003, in Fort Lee, New Jersey, at age 77. Over half a million people filed past her coffin in Miami and New York. She rests at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, beside Pedro Knight.

But her true mausoleum is every dance floor where a salsa plays, every kitchen where someone sings “Quimbara quimbara,” every Cuban who, far from their island, shouts ¡Azúcar! to chase away the sadness.

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A note from Zunzún: If you’re in Miami before February 21, don’t miss the centennial exhibition at the Coral Gables Museum. Unseen photos of the Queen. Worth every minute. 🌺