With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz, is making history nearly 20 years after her death
Listen
1:31
Listen to the Story
(SOUNDBITE OF CELIA CRUZ SONG, "LA VIDA ES UN CARNAVAL")
A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
La guarachera de Cuba and the queen of salsa is making history nearly 20 years after her death. Celia Cruz will soon be honored as the first Afro Latina to appear on a U.S. quarter.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LA VIDA ES UN CARNAVAL")
Sponsor
UNIDENTIFIED SINGERS: (Singing in Spanish).
LEILA FADEL, HOST:
The Cuban American singer left a music legacy that included numerous Grammy Awards, a National Medal of Arts and 23 gold albums.
FELIX CONTRERAS, BYLINE: Her performance was just - was untouchable.
MARTÍNEZ: That's Alt.Latino's Felix Contreras. He says Cruz's career transcended music. Cruz's former manager, Omer Pardillo Cid, agrees.
OMER PARDILLO CID: The only thing that was better than the singer that everybody knew - it was the persona behind Celia Cruz.
FADEL: But this recognition is special.
Sponsor
PARDILLO CID: Being a first Afro Latina to obtain this honor, I think, is amazing because Celia was a trailblazer.
FADEL: Ariana Curtis is the curator for Latinx studies at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
ARIANA CURTIS: She was an unapologetic Black woman. And you can see that in her style. You can hear that in her songs, from "Quimbara" to "La Negra Tiene Tumbao."
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LA NEGRA TIENE TUMBAO")
UNIDENTIFIED SINGERS: (Singing in Spanish).
CELIA CRUZ: (Singing in Spanish).
UNIDENTIFIED SINGERS: (Singing in Spanish).
Sponsor
MARTÍNEZ: Pardillo Cid says Cruz was proud of being an Afro Latina.
PARDILLO CID: There is a new generation that, obviously, are identifying with Celia's culture, music. And they feel proud of her.
MARTÍNEZ: The U.S. Mint says the new quarter will be out in mid-2024.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LA NEGRA TIENE TUMBAO")
UNIDENTIFIED SINGERS: (Singing in Spanish).
CRUZ: (Singing in Spanish). Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
