{"title":"Celia Cruz","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAbout Celia Cruz\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eÚrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso was born in Havana, Cuba on October 21, 1925. She rose to prominence in Cuba as the lead vocalist of Sonora Matancera in 1950, leaving Cuba in 1960 after the Cuban Revolution and never returning. She settled in the United States and continued her career, becoming a central figure in the New York-based salsa scene of the 1960s and 1970s through her partnerships with the Fania All-Stars, Johnny Pacheco, and others. Widely known as the Queen of Salsa, she recorded more than 70 albums across her career and won multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards. She died in Fort Lee, New Jersey on July 16, 2003.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSound and style\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eCelia Cruz's sound spans Afro-Cuban music, son, salsa, guaracha, and bolero, with her distinctively powerful and ornamented vocal delivery defining the international salsa aesthetic across multiple decades. Her signature exclamation Azúcar! became one of the most recognizable phrases in Latin popular music.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eDiscography highlights\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCanta Celia Cruz (1956, Seeco)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCelia \u0026amp; Johnny (1974, Vaya) - with Johnny Pacheco\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTremendo Caché (1975, Vaya) - with Johnny Pacheco\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLa Ceiba (1979, Vaya)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEternos (1978, Vaya) - with the Fania All-Stars\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAzúcar Negra (1993, RMM)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLa Negra Tiene Tumbao (2001, Sony Discos)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFor collectors\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOriginal Seeco, Tico, and Vaya pressings of Celia Cruz's mid-twentieth-century catalog are widely collected, particularly the Vaya releases with Johnny Pacheco. Multiple reissue programs across Craft, Strut, Universal Latin, and others have brought her catalog into modern audiophile pressings.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhere to start\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eListeners new to Celia Cruz typically start with Celia \u0026amp; Johnny (1974, with Johnny Pacheco) or compilations of her Fania-era work. \u003cspan class=\"related-collections\"\u003eExplore more: \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/latin-american-vinyl-records\"\u003eLatin American\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"celia-cruz-the-queen-of-salsa-vinyl-2862","title":"The Queen of Salsa LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eCelia Cruz was the undisputed Queen of Salsa. 23 gold albums and seven Grammy Awards attest to her longevity and popularity, and she was active right up until the year before her death in 2003.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540766339255,"sku":"210000099101","price":20.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/cruz.jpg?v=1781154190"},{"product_id":"celia-cruz-celia-johnny-vinyl","title":"Celia \u0026 Johnny LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eShips 10\/11 Johnny Pacheco had bigger plans for Celia and for his celebrated 1974 release. His idea of creating the consummate conjunto recording lacked one vital ingredient. An exciting partner to lead the ensemble. That person was Celia Cruz. 180g\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540900524215,"sku":"210000092541","price":29.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4364588-3222065.jpg?v=1781154658"},{"product_id":"celia-cruz-regalo-del-alma-silver-vinyl","title":"Regalo Del Alma 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eIncludes the hits “”Yo Vivire”, “Ella Tiene Fuego”, “Rie y Llora” plus many more.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540938240183,"sku":"210000095722","price":31.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/celia_d3824e44-a85a-423f-aaf9-a43c44031038.jpg?v=1781154789"},{"product_id":"celia-cruz-exitos-eternos-vinyl-centennial-edition","title":"Exitos Eternos 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eTo commemorate the centennial of the legendary Celia Cruz, this compilation of carefully curated, timeless hits - which features collaborations with some of the Caribbean and Latin America's most beloved artists\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540979265719,"sku":"210000099516","price":34.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/aunil-83414-195529-08052025040102-8358-1.jpg?v=1781154943"},{"product_id":"celia-cruz-the-queen-of-salsa-vinyl-5777","title":"The Queen of Salsa LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eExperience the vibrant energy of Celia Cruz with \"The Queen of Salsa LP,\" a celebration of her greatest hits from 1966 to 1993. This essential compilation features iconic tracks like \"Quimbara\" and \"Guantanamera,\" alongside collaborations with legends such as Tito Puente and Willie Colón. Perfect for both longtime fans and newcomers, this album captures the essence of Latino rhythms and the enduring legacy of the Salsa queen.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785734664375,"sku":"210000102313","price":38.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4457460-3492141.jpg?v=1783045763"},{"product_id":"celia-cruz-en-vivo-100-anos-de-azucar-vinyl","title":"En Vivo: 100 Anos De Azucar LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eCelebrate the vibrant sounds of Latin music with Celia Cruz's \"En Vivo: 100 Anos De Azucar LP,\" a thrilling live recording that showcases her dynamic performance style. Released by Loud and Live, this vinyl captures the essence of Cruz's artistry and enduring influence in the Latin American genre, making it a cherished addition to any collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785753079991,"sku":"210000093062","price":33.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4373501-3301896.jpg?v=1783045813"},{"product_id":"celia-cruz-a-night-of-salsa-celia-cruz-friends-vinyl","title":"A Night Of Salsa: Celia Cruz \u0026 Friends 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eExperience the vibrant rhythms of Latin America with \"A Night Of Salsa: Celia Cruz \u0026amp; Friends,\" a dynamic 2LP collection celebrating the legendary Celia Cruz. Featuring beloved tracks like \"La Vida Es Un Carnaval\" and the unforgettable collaboration with Tito Puente, this album captures the essence of salsa, making it a must-have for any aficionado.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785834377399,"sku":"210000094913","price":32.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4385920-3288058.jpg?v=1783046052"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.waxtraxrecords.com\/collections\/celia-cruz.oembed","provider":"Wax Trax Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}