Volume CXXXIII, Number 3 September 26, 2003 f

A tribute to the queen of salsa
JULIA GUERRERO READ
STAFF WRITER

Her recently released posthumous album, Regalo del Alma, means "gift from the soul" in Spanish, and it is indeed a parting gift from her soul to ours. Although she was battling cancer at the time it was recorded, it is as lively and danceable as ever. The first track in particular, "Elle Tiene Fuego," recorded with Spanish rapper El General, is definitely a call to the dance floor. El General is not the first rapper Celia has collaborated with; she recorded a remake of her famous hit "Guantanamera" with Wyclef Jean a few years ago. Even into her 70s, Celia's deep, sonorous voice shows no weakness; it is capable of reaching the soul of her audience, whether it motivates them to go out on the dance floor or conjures up images of her native Cuba.

Celia Cruz was born on October 21, 1925, in a poor neighborhood of Havana. From a very early age, her family recognized her singing ability, and she won many talent contests. Although her father wanted her to be a teacher, which really was the only acceptable profession for women at the time, her mother supported her, and Celia studied at Cuba's National Music Conservatory. After graduating, she joined the Cuban band La Sonora Matancera and became their lead singer.

She eventually married one of the group's trumpeters, Pedro Knight, and they remained married for the rest of her life. In 1960, with Cuba under the dictatorship of Fidel Castro, the group escaped to the United States under the pretense of going there on tour. When they never returned, Castro became angry and exiled her. She was not even allowed to return when her parents became ill and died. Thanks to her indomitable spirit, however, Celia and Pedro began a new life in the United States, spending most of their time in New York City and Miami. Celia began a solo career and Pedro acted as her manager.

During the '60s she did not receive much recognition, but in the '70s she began recording with fellow legendary salsero, Tito Puente. The success of these albums increased awareness of Caribbean music, which had never been termed "salsa" until this time. It is a very fitting description, however, because as Celia herself once stated, "Salsa means sauce. When you put sauce on meat loaf, or steak, the food tastes better. Salsa is the flavor of my music."

On stage, Celia was a very vibrant performer, up until the very end. I saw her in concert two years ago in my hometown in south Texas, and it was everything I imagined it would be and more. True to her reputation, she was wearing a bright orange dress with a bright orange wig and even danced. Her husband Pedro was at her side, as always, directing the band behind her.

One of Celia's trademarks is the shout of "Azucar!" (Spanish for "sugar") at every concert. It began with a story she would tell on stage about ordering coffee with sugar at a Miami restaurant. During an interview once, she explained its origin. "I was having dinner at a restaurant in Miami, and when the waiter offered me coffee, he asked me if I took it with or without sugar. I said, 'Chico, you're Cuban. How can you even ask that? With sugar!' And that evening during my show, I told the audience the story and they laughed. And one day, instead of telling the story, I simply walked down the stairs and shouted 'Azucar!'" On Cruz's new album, many songs contain this famous trademark, including "Rie y Llora" and "Diagnostico."

During her lifetime, Celia received many awards, including a lifetime achievement award from the Smithsonian Institute and honorary doctorate degrees from Yale and the University of Miami. She kept performing and recording up until the very end, with an appearance on a Dr. Pepper commercial which is 2003-09-26ly on the air and the recording of her final, posthumously-released album.

Celia summed up her vibrant spirit and attitude once when she said, "My life is singing. I don't plan on retiring. I plan to die on a stage. I can have a headache but when it's time to sing and I step on that stage there is no more headache." May she rest in peace and know that she will always be remembered.

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