A voice that shaped the history of Latin tropical music
Editor’s note: Celia Cruz, the “Queen of Salsa,” died July 16, 2003, at 77, at her home in Fort Lee, New Jersey, after a long battle with cancer. For 50 years, the legendary singer made generations dance, and she still captivates today’s youth with her unmatched, powerful voice. This interview, originally published in 2002, captures Cruz’s extraordinary humbleness and warmth. It has been updated for Celia Cruz’s centennial celebration.
Many wonder, what is the secret of the world’s most famous guarachera? How has she managed to maintain her active career while projecting youthfulness and vitality well into her 70s? Could it be the azúcares?
After completing her European tour and shortly before traveling to Panama (where she was awarded the National Medal of Honor of the Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa), the singer, born in a humble neighborhood in Havana, revealed part of her secret.
“Work is what gives me energy,” she said as she slipped a huge gold ring on her finger. “I started this year with a lot of work and several awards. That gives me energy and encourages me to keep bringing my music to all my people.”
Leading a healthy lifestyle is another secret to maintaining vitality, she added.
“When I started my career, I was very young. People used to believe that drinking brandy or cognac could keep your throat in better shape. But I never liked alcohol, so I said, ‘No, I’ll take care of my throat myself.’ So, without alcohol or drugs, I’ve preserved my health and my voice.”
And of course, she watches not only her own diet but also that of her “cabecita de algodón” (little cotton head), as she affectionately calls her husband, Pedro Knight.
“We eat very healthy, lots of chicken, vegetables, especially now that Pedro has started having some issues with his sugar levels…. And since this job makes us travel so much, when we’re finally at home, we just watch TV, and we don’t stay up late when we’re not working.”
She is not at home very often, though, because with the success of her new single, “Hay Que Empezar Otra Vez,” from her album La Negra Tiene Tumbao, everyone wants to see her perform.
Despite her enormous fame and the millions of records she has sold worldwide, Cruz, who began singing with the popular orchestra Sonora Matancera, is an extremely accessible artist.
“I’ve always gotten along with everyone,” she says with a smile. “For me, giving is worth more than taking, and I’ve always given something positive to my colleagues. For example, when anyone comes up to me asking for advice, I’m happy to give it to them. One of the people who has embraced me the most and who is very humble is Cristina Saralegui, and that is why we love each other so much,” she says.
But, like everyone, she is hurt by criticism.
“When I did the soap opera Valentina with Verónica Castro and she went to Cuba, they wanted to break my star on Calle Ocho [on the Walk of Fame located in the area known as Little Havana in Miami], and I had nothing to do with her trip to Cuba. Plus, everyone is going to Cuba. I’m the only one not going! How am I to be expected to apply for a visa to enter the country I was born in?”
Cruz said she wants to continue bringing her music to all corners of the world. And she is not thinking about retiring because, for her, it would amount to death:
“I believe that inactivity is the cancer of the soul…. I’ve always thought that I will retire the day God takes away my abilities. Like Miguelito Valdés, I want to bid farewell to life while on stage.”
Celia Cruz is the first Afro-Latina to appear on U.S. currency
