Celia Cruz, the Queen of Salsa, the pride of Cubans and their voice in freedom, has been named one of the top 20 singers of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine. ¡Azúcar!
18. Celia Cruz
You can hear so much of Celia Cruz’s life story in her voice: Her rich, inimitable tone captured the warmth and vibrancy of Havana, often evoking the call of street vendors and the power of Afro-Cuban santero songs from her childhood. Though she rose to fame in Cuba, she became a star in New York City, showcasing her endless charisma and mighty vocal strength alongside history’s biggest salsa acts. No matter who she performed with, Cruz always shone radiantly, her magic tied into her ability to make people feel: She could capture nostalgia and yearning, or she could let out a call of “Azúcar!” and embody the exuberance for life that continues to make her one of the most transcendent singers of all time. —J.L.
The Celia many people know, the latter career one, is not the prime Celia. It’s like comfort food vs. gourmet.
I take this selection like a grain of salt. It’s like People’s 100 Top most Beautiful People. You look at the list and you say, “what the f**k?” On what planet on those people the most beautiful people?
Anything from such a source should be taken with a grain of salt.