Celia Cruz Legacy Project
Celia was central to the creation of Salsa. Music historians confirm she is the genre’s most iconic performer. Over her brilliant 50-year career, Celia’s music captured the unique vibrancy and magic of Latin music, and won the hearts
of millions across the globe.
The Celia Cruz Legacy Project Archive and Research Center has been created to celebrate Celia’s wide range of accomplishments. The Center collects and safeguards materials, documents, photographs, videos, stage dresses and other pieces
from Celia’s personal collection and makes them accessible to scholars. In addition, memorabilia exhibits and innovative music programs for underprivileged children are developed and provided to keep Salsa alive and constantly evolving.
Exhibits
Celia El Musical
A theatrical experience that puts Celia’s music front and center while tracing her life and times. The 2-hour multi-media show will feature Celia’s singular style and biggest musical hits, such as Quimbara, La Negra Tiene Tumbao, Tu Voz, Bemba Colorá, and La Vida Es un Carnaval, while uniquely telling her story. The show’s premise finds Celia on a stage again, giving one last concert as if she had never left us. As her musical legacy unfolds, she recalls episodes of her life, which are illustrated through live dramatic reenactments, dance, and Celia’s own words.
On a large LED screen, archival material, never-before-seen film, video footage, unpublished personal photographs, and documents support the unique narrative style. The musical numbers are performed live by international singing star Lucrecia, who recreates Celia’s unique performing style, gestures, personality,y and voice with the support of a 13-piece band, dancers, and actors. Celia Cruz always said that she felt most alive onstage, and through this unique concept,t she triumphantly returns to it.
Celia Cruz All-Stars
So much more than a tribute band, “The Celia Cruz All Stars,” most of the musicians played with Celia during her illustrious career. Fans call the group “Classic Celia” with a funky, contemporary twist.
An All-Stars Concert brings the Queen of Salsa’s popular repertoire to life. Get reacquainted with “La Negra Tiene Tumbao,” “Quimbara,” “Usted Abusó,” “La Vida Es Un Carnaval,” “Bemba Colora,” andmany other favorites.
This group of young, talented musicians, under the musical direction of Braily Ramos, pay tribute to the hits you love: the immortal songs of the Guarachera de Cuba. The group has performed at international music festivals in Mexico and the U.S. After each performance, the All Stars contribute to the Celia Cruz Foundation, which grants musical scholarships to students who cannot otherwise afford them.
Celia is smiling down from heaven!
Celia Cruz Centennial Projects
Celia Cruz Sinfonica
Celia Cruz was a multifaceted artist comfortable with numerous musical genres and formations. She performed with various symphony orchestras on multiple occasions, as did Lucrecia. A performance inspired the concept of Celia Sinfónica with the Florida Philarmonic in 1996. Although Celia Sinfonica is an entirely new show, Lucrecia has performed several of Celia’s songs and traditional Cuban numbers with a symphony orchestra. We have several arrangements and are open to discussing other possibilities for that occasion. Our goal with Celia Sinfónica is to honor Celia’s legacy by presenting some of her most emblematic repertoire in a symphonic setting, but also includes Cuban standards such as Sabor a Mi, Cachita, Ay Mama Inés, evoking the bygone era of glamor and tropical splendor of the fifties in Havana.