 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 
|
| Photo: David Atlas / Retna |
|
Celia Cruz—The Queen of Salsa
Celia Cruz, the “Queen of Salsa” died on July 16, 2003 at her Fort Lee, New Jersey, home after suffering from brain cancer. For 50 years, the salsa legend made three generations dance and captivated the young people of today with her unequaled and powerful voice. Written in 2002, this story captures Cruz’s extraordinary life and accomplishments. Many people ask the most famous singer of guaracha music how she stays so popular, young and full of energy. Could the key be in the "Azúcar" (sugar)—Celia's trademark opening line at her concerts? A short time ago, having recently returned from a tour of Europe and just before traveling to Panama, (where she has been awarded the National Medal of Honor of the Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa), she revealed some of her secrets: "Work gives me energy," she said, while putting an enormous gold ring on her finger. "I began the new year with a lot of work and several awards. This gives me energy and infuses me with the desire to continue bringing my music to all of my fans." She affirms that living a healthy life is another secret to maintaining her vitality. "When I began my career I was very young. They used to believe that a brandy or a cognac was good for the throat. But I have never liked alcohol, so I said, 'No, I will take care of my throat by myself.' So, without alcohol and without drugs, I have maintained my health and my voice."
"In addition, we eat very healthy food, a lot of chicken and vegetables, especially now that Pedro has had some problems with sugar. . . And because our work makes us travel so much, when we are finally in New York, at home, we stay in watching television; we do not stay up late very often when we are not working," she adds. It is unusual for her to be at home. With the success of her new record, Hay Que Empezar Otra Vez [You Have to Start Over Again], everybody wants to hear more of her, without even knowing that there will soon be a movie made about her life, starring Whoopi Goldberg. Due to her enormous fame and the millions of records that she has sold throughout the world, Celia, who was born in a poor neighborhood in Havana, Cuba and began to sing with the popular musical group La Sonora Matancera, is a very approachable artist. "I have always gotten along very well with everyone. For me, the whole is worth more than the parts, and I have always tried to give something positive to my colleagues. For example, when they come to me for advice, I give it enthusiastically. Someone who has accepted me most openly is Cristina Saralegui, and because of that we are very good friends," she said. Like everyone else, criticism hurts her. "When I made the soap opera Valentina with Verónica Castro and she went to Cuba, they wanted to remove my star on Calle Ocho, and I did not have anything to do with her trip to Cuba. Everybody goes to Cuba. The only one who does not go is me! How can I ask for a visa to go to the country where I was born?" she asks incredulously. Celia Cruz, who has three honorary doctoral degrees (Yale University, Florida International University and the University of Miami), says that she wants to continue bringing her music to the world and that she does not think about retiring because, for her, it would be like dying. "I do not say it just because of the artists. There are artists who change the direction of their career. I believe that inactivity is a cancer on the soul. . . . I have always thought that I would retire on the day that God extinguishes my faculties. Like Miguelito Valdez, I want to go while I'm on stage." Go behind the scenes with Celia Cruz, as her former publicist shares his personal insights in this tribute to the “Queen of Salsa. |
||||
|
|
