La Reina De Cuba (1992)

"Cruz is recognised by many as the "Queen Of Salsa". Of Afro-Cuban decent, Cruz began singing in amateur contests at the age of 14 in her home city of Havana, Cuba, where she studied music theory, piano and voice at the National Music Conservatory. In 1950 she began singing with the conjunto La Sonora Matancera, and with that group she was a central figure in some of the most glorious chapters of Afro-Cuban music, recording a number of legendary songs, including "Yembe Laroco", "Yerbero Moderno", "Burundanga", and "Caramelo", among many. By the end of the 1950s La Sonora Matancera was the most popular group in Cuba and Celia's alliance with them took her beyond the coast of Cuba; firstly to Mexico for two years, then moving to the US, and performing internationally. While in the group she met Pedro Knight, at the time one of the band's two trumpeters, whom she married on 1962-07-14. (Cruz died just 2 days after celebrating her 41st wedding anniversary.)" (Discogs)

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