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Ep. 44 Remembering Celia Cruz: The Early Years (1 of 4)
For the first 4 Saturdays in July, Voice of the Water Lily will be doing a 4 part celebration of ‘La Guarachera’ Celia Cruz for the 19th anniversary of her passing. This week’s episode will talk about her early years in Havana, beginnings in music and how she became a part of illustrious Sonora Matancera.
Ursula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso wa born on October 21, 1925 in Santos Suarez, Havana Cuba. Her talent was evident from a very young age. Despite her father, Simon Cruz’s, concerns that music was not a stable or reliable career, Celia had the support of her mother, Catalina (who everyone called Ollita) and her aunt, Ana. In her teen years she sang on amateur radio contests, before she got a job at several major radio stations including CMQ and radio cadena suaritos. After Myrta SIlva decided to return to Puerto Rico, La Sonora Matancera was left without a lead singer. Celia’s debut with the band was August 3, 1950. Surprisingly, Celia was not accepeted by Myrta‘s fans at first, some ven sent her mean letters telling her to quit the band. Soon after, Rogelio Martinez (director of La Sonora) wanted to record an album with her. At the time, La Sonora was signed with Sydney Siegel’s ’Seeco’ records. Siegel was apprehensive and told Martinez that “women didn’t sell records and were only good for live performances’. Rogelio argued back that if Celia’s records didn’t sell, Seeco didn’t have to pay her, Rogelio and the band would be responsible for it. Siegel agreed. Not only did Celia’s records sell, but right off the bat, she had several big hits. How ironic it is that several years later it was Sydney Siegel who presented her with an award in New York City for her ongoing success. You’ll hear about all this and more in this week’s episode.
Las Muñecas del cha-cha-cha
La cumbanchera del Belen
Ahi Na Ma
Que Critiquen
Juntitos tu y yo
Madre Rumba
Chango
Oyeme Agayu
Oya Diosa Y Fe
Agua Pa Mi
Constestacion de el marinero
Luna Sobre Matanzas
Goza Negra
Rinkincalla
Prende La Vela
Elegua Quiere Tambo
Para Tu Altar
Aunque me cueste la vida
Nostalgia Habanera
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By Anani Kaike
5
1515 ratings
For the first 4 Saturdays in July, Voice of the Water Lily will be doing a 4 part celebration of ‘La Guarachera’ Celia Cruz for the 19th anniversary of her passing. This week’s episode will talk about her early years in Havana, beginnings in music and how she became a part of illustrious Sonora Matancera.
Ursula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso wa born on October 21, 1925 in Santos Suarez, Havana Cuba. Her talent was evident from a very young age. Despite her father, Simon Cruz’s, concerns that music was not a stable or reliable career, Celia had the support of her mother, Catalina (who everyone called Ollita) and her aunt, Ana. In her teen years she sang on amateur radio contests, before she got a job at several major radio stations including CMQ and radio cadena suaritos. After Myrta SIlva decided to return to Puerto Rico, La Sonora Matancera was left without a lead singer. Celia’s debut with the band was August 3, 1950. Surprisingly, Celia was not accepeted by Myrta‘s fans at first, some ven sent her mean letters telling her to quit the band. Soon after, Rogelio Martinez (director of La Sonora) wanted to record an album with her. At the time, La Sonora was signed with Sydney Siegel’s ’Seeco’ records. Siegel was apprehensive and told Martinez that “women didn’t sell records and were only good for live performances’. Rogelio argued back that if Celia’s records didn’t sell, Seeco didn’t have to pay her, Rogelio and the band would be responsible for it. Siegel agreed. Not only did Celia’s records sell, but right off the bat, she had several big hits. How ironic it is that several years later it was Sydney Siegel who presented her with an award in New York City for her ongoing success. You’ll hear about all this and more in this week’s episode.
Las Muñecas del cha-cha-cha
La cumbanchera del Belen
Ahi Na Ma
Que Critiquen
Juntitos tu y yo
Madre Rumba
Chango
Oyeme Agayu
Oya Diosa Y Fe
Agua Pa Mi
Constestacion de el marinero
Luna Sobre Matanzas
Goza Negra
Rinkincalla
Prende La Vela
Elegua Quiere Tambo
Para Tu Altar
Aunque me cueste la vida
Nostalgia Habanera