Hi my name is Taylor and I am going to be discussing the amazing life of the Queen of Salsa, formally known as Celia Cruz. Celia Cruz was born (real full name) on October 21, 1925 in the musically diverse city of Havana, Cuba. She grew up in an extremely important time for tropical music in cuba and eventually became one of the most renowned artist of that genre and more not only in her own country but throughout Latin America. She did grow up in a very weird time for Cuba. Not only was music changing for the better, political, the country was at it’s worst. But she used the one thing that brought everyone a sense of euphoria, her voice. Celia has always been a musical person. As she got older she would compete in singing competitions and win. She even did small commercial jingles. But it wasn’t until the late 40s and 50s she got her big break. During that time, an Afro Cuban group famously known as La Sonora Matancera was at it’s peak. This band was famous for singing with other singers like Bienvenido Grada, Celio González, and Benny Moré. Their lead singer, Myrta Silva, had wanted to leave the group to start a family in her country of Puerto Rico which left her spot open. Celia auditioned, and with hard work she became the groups first black front woman. Celia first record with La Sonora in August 1950 and wasn’t received well by the public because she was black. But she persevered and kept doing what she loved most. She stayed with La Sonora for 15 years and recorded songs like Juancito Trucupey and Yerbero Moderno. They also made songs in honor of the Saints of the afro-Cuban religion, Santeria. The most populars were, Palo Mayimbe, yemaya, and Guede Zaina. As year passed, living in Cuba become a lot more tense. The Castro regime didn’t like how La Sonora accepted gigs in other countries, so once the group flew to Mexico for a concert in 1960, the regime banned them from ever returning to cuba again. Celia COULDNT even attend her parents funerals. She then moved to the United States, found a home in New York, and then became a citizen. She stayed with La Sonora until 1965 and then began her solo career. She was contacted by Tito Puente who was very important in the making Latin Jazz in New York. That was the beginning of the next chapter of musical career Celia and Tito puente made a few albums together which weren’t so successful. So she left for Fania records and joined the Fania All-Stars with Johnny Pacheco and debuted her most popular album Celia & Johnny. With Fania, Celia career skyrocketed. She had joined Fania in the 1970s which was also the time salsa was extremely popular. With them she record hits like Bemba Colora, Toro mata, and Quimbara. Salsa evetually died like most genres but Celia’s popularity didn’t. Years lster she made another hit entitled “La Negra Tiene Tumba’o”. A few months after releasing final album Regalo Del Alma in 2003, celia passed away. Her career lasted a little over 50 years and her impact on music in the Spanish speaking world is still seen in recent years. Celia as well as some of the Fania All-Stars paved the way for the popularity of genres such as Salsa, merengue, and reggaetón.