A naturalized American citizen and one of the most well-known Latin musicians of the 20th century, Celia Cruz (21 October 1925 – 16 July 2003) was better known by her stage name, Celia.
As a guaracha singer, Cruz became well-known in Cuba in the 1950s, gaining the moniker “La Guarachera de Cuba.” She made contributions to Latin music in the ensuing decades, earning her the title “Queen of Salsa” in other countries.
Celia Cruz siblings: Meet Dolores Ramos, Bárbaro Jiménez, Gladys Bécquer
On October 21, 1925, Celia Cruz was born at 47 Serrano Street in the Santos Suárez district of Havana, Cuba. Simón Cruz, her mother, and Catalina Alfonso Ramos, a homemaker who looked after a large family, were both railroad stokers.
The home had fourteen children total, including her three siblings, Dolores, Gladys, and Bárbaro, as well as cousins. Celia was one of the older ones and would sing lullabies to the younger ones to help them fall asleep.
Her mother claims that she started singing when she was 9 or 10 months old, frequently in the middle of the night. She also sung in her neighborhood ensemble, Botón de oro, and at the Friday civic acts at school.
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