Salsa santera celia cruz biography

Before Celia Cruz became known for her signature catchphrase, “Azucar,” she was just a young girl in Cuba absorbing the rich musical diversity in Havana.

The legendary singer, born Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso, grew up in the low-income neighborhood of Santos Suarez as one of four siblings where she started singing at a young age.

“I was born singing,” she told Generation ñ in “My mother, Catalina, told me that at 9 or 10 months of age I’d wake up in the middle of the night, 2 or 3 in the morning, singing.

‘Esta muchachita va a trabajar de noche.’ Pues la viejita no se equivocó.” ('This little girl is going to work nights.’)

She had fans lining up to hear her sing before her career even got started

Cruz earned support for her singing career before it even took off, with people from her “barrio” lining up to hear her sing her young siblings to sleep.

Turns out, her cousin knew she’d be a big