Celia Cruz

小簡介
Celia Cruz是一位在拉丁地區(qū)令人肅然起敬的國寶級天后，她是當(dāng)今年輕一代的拉丁歌手最崇拜、敬仰的音樂前輩，她將其一生奉獻(xiàn)給了Salsa（騷沙）樂的推廣，早在50年代就開始為拉丁音樂打拼，將豐富迷人的祖國音樂寶藏介紹給世人。
來自古巴，縱橫樂壇半個世紀(jì)的Celia Cruz，50年代參加家鄉(xiāng)電臺歌唱比賽，一鳴驚人的表現(xiàn)，使她被唱片公司選上而后成為“La Sonora Matancera”團(tuán)體成員，從此展現(xiàn)她魅力十足的沙啞嗓音。60年代這個古巴家喻戶曉的超級名團(tuán)，為逃避不安的政治環(huán)境離開家鄉(xiāng)來到美國，在新大陸引發(fā)空前拉丁旋風(fēng)，令拉丁地區(qū)以外的人們認(rèn)識及感受到他們熱情奔放魔力節(jié)奏，進(jìn)而沉迷在他們的音樂中，身為當(dāng)家臺柱歌手的Celia Cruz因此也一炮而紅，注定走上個人單飛的路途，65年開始以本名勇闖歌壇，開創(chuàng)飛黃騰達(dá)的歌唱生涯，成為最早揚名于英語世界的拉丁女歌手之一。
by Craig Harris
Celia Cruz was one of Latin musics most respected vocalists. A ten-time Grammy nominee, Cruz, who sang only in her native Spanish language, received a Smithsonian Lifetime Achievement award, a National Medal of the Arts, and honorary doctorates from Yale University and the University of Miami. A street in Miami was even renamed in her honor, and Cruzs trademark orange, red, and white polka dot dress and shoes have been placed in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institute of Technology. The Hollywood Wax Museum includes a statue of the Cuba-born songstress. According to the European Jazz Network, Cruz commands her realm with a down-to-earth dignity unmistakably vibrant in her wide smile and striking pose.
One of 14 children, born in the small village of Barrio Santos Suarez, Havana, Cruz was drawn to music from an early age. Her first pair of shoes was a gift from a tourist for whom she sang. In addition to spending many evenings singing her younger siblings to sleep, Cruz sang in school productions and community gatherings. Taken to cabarets and nightclubs by an aunt, she was introduced to the world of professional music. At the encouragement of a cousin, Cruz began to enter and win local talent shows. Although her father attempted to guide her toward a career as a teacher, Cruz continued to be lured by music. In a 1997 interview, she said, I have fulfilled my fathers wish to be a teacher as, through my music, I teach generations of people about my culture and the happiness that is found in just living life. As a performer, I want people to feel their hearts sing and their spirits soar. Enrolling in Cubas Conservatory of Music in 1947, Cruz found her earliest inspiration in the singing of Afro-Cuban vocalist Paulina Alvarez. Her first break came when she was invited to join the band la Sonora Matancera in 1950. The group was revered as the Latin equivalent of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Cruz remained with the group for 15 years, touring throughout the world. She married the bands trumpet player Pedro Knight on July 14, 1962. With Fidel Castros assuming control of Cuba in 1960, Cruz and Knight refused to return to their homeland and became citizens of the United States. Although they initially signed to perform with the orchestra of the Hollywood Palladium, Cruz and Knight eventually settled in New York. Knight became Cruzs manager in 1965, a position he held until the mid-90s when he began to devote his attention to serving as her musical director and conductor of her band.
Leaving Sonora Matanceras band in 1965, Cruz launched her solo career with a band formed for her by Tito Puente. Despite releasing eight albums together, the collaboration failed to achieve commercial success. Cruz and Puente resumed their partnership with a special appearance at the Grammy Award ceremonies in 1987. Signed by Vaya, the sister label of Fania, Cruz recorded with Oscar DLeon, Cheo Feliciano, and Hector Rodriquez in the mid- to late 60s. Cruzs first success since leaving Sonora Matancera came in 1974 when she recorded a duo album, Celia and Johnny, with Johnny Pacheco, trombone player and the co-owner of Fania. She subsequently began appearing with the Fania All Stars. Cruzs popularity reached its highest level when she appeared in the 1992 film The Mambo Kings. Cruz also appeared in the film The Perez Family. She sang a duet version of Loco de Amor, with David Byrne, in the Jonathan Demme movie Something Wild. In 1998, Cruz released Duets, an album featuring her singing with Willie Colon, Angela Carrasco, Oscar DLeon, Jose Alberto El Canario, and la India. Cruz continued to record and perform until sidelined by a brain tumor in 2002. While recovering from surgery to remove the tumor, she managed to make it in to the studio in early 2003 to record Regalo de Alma. Her surgery was only partially successful and she died July 16, 2003. The passing of the Queen of Salsa left a huge gap in Latin music, but also a remarkable catalog to document her reign.