CELIA CRUZ<\/strong> [1925-2003]stood out as the most influential female figure in Afro-Cuban music. Her flamboyant style, powerful projection and the warmth of her voice resonates. She was born in Havana, Cuba, the second oldest in a family of fourteen children and often sung the younger ones to sleep. Her African ancestors were forcibly brought to the island to work in the sugar fields. Her father was a railroad stoker and wanted Celia to become a teacher. She had other ideas and as a teenager won first prize in a radio singing contest. Drawn to Cuba’s strong salsa sound she connected to music that blended African rhythms with more traditional Spanish music. Celia was determined and went on to study voice, piano and music theory at the National Conservatory of Music<\/em> in Havana.<\/p>\n When opportunity presents itself grab it. Hold on tight and don’t let go. -Celia Cruz<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Her big break came when the well known Cuban band, La Sonora\u00a0Matancera<\/em> brought her on as their lead vocalist. She was the rare female voice on the Cuban music scene, and the band played at the legendary Tropicana Nightclub<\/em>, starred in films and toured all over Latin America. In 1959, Cuba became a socialist state under the leadership of Fidel Castro<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “I send to Cuba my voice, from this distant beach.” <\/em>This is a line from a song sung by Celia Cruz in the early days of her exile from her native country.<\/p>\n This illustration was created for the book My Name is Celia<\/strong> written by Monica Brown. While the band was on tour in Mexico they decided to defect and this outraged Fidel Castro who vowed the group would never return to Cuba again. They settled in the U.S. and although Celia lived in New York she was a big star in Miami and performed there regularly. Cuban-Americans connected with her life and music as they identified with fleeing Cuba to achieve success in their new homeland. When the singer died from cancer in 2003, her casket was flown to Miami where 200,000 fans turned out to say goodbye.<\/p>\n