Retro Blast: Latin Icon Celia Cruz's Cause Of Death

Celia Cruz was born Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso in the heart of Havana—though it’s likely you know her better simply as "Celia Cruz" or as the unforgettable "Azúcar!"—the sugar-filled battle cry that would become the anthem of her later years. From an early age, Celia was immersed in the rhythm of Cuban music, a soundtrack that echoed through her childhood streets and inspired her to pursue a career in the arts.

But she didn’t start out as a salsa goddess—oh no, my friend. Young Celia actually began her journey as a student of music, enrolling in the National Conservatory of Music in Havana. Legend has it that she studied everything from classical music to opera, but like any truly great artist, it was the call of the mambo, cha-cha, and guaguancó that eventually pulled her toward the colorful, electrifying world of Cuban popular music. She made her debut in the late 1940s, but it wasn't until the 1950s that she truly started to make a name for herself.

In 1950, she joined the Sonora Matancera, one of the most famous Cuban orchestras of the time, and thus began the glorious ride that would take her from Havana to New York City, from obscurity to superstardom. With the Sonora Matancera, Celia helped push Cuban music to international heights. It was here that she first showed the world that her voice could make the earth shake and the heavens sing.

But just as things were heating up in Cuba, the world around Celia was cooling down—if you consider political exile “cool.” After the Cuban Revolution in 1959, Celia Cruz, like many other artists of the time, found herself caught in the middle of a political storm. Fidel Castro’s regime was no fan of Celia's music (probably because she was too fabulous for them to handle), so she found herself exiled to the United States in 1960

New York became Celia's new stage, and the city—never one to shy away from talent—embraced her with open arms. She didn’t just continue her career; she revolutionized it. With her unmistakable Afro-Cuban sound, her impeccable sense of rhythm, and a voice that could lift a city block, Celia Cruz helped push salsa to the forefront of Latin music. And when she wasn’t singing, she was dancing—and even when she was just standing still, she was doing it with such flair that people couldn’t look away. Celia had entered the salsa scene, and it would never be the same.

In the late '60s and early '70s, Celia became an integral figure in the rise of salsa music. She worked with some of the biggest names in Latin jazz and salsa, including Tito Puente, Johnny Pacheco, and Willie Colón. Together, they crafted music that was as fast-paced and energetic as a New York subway ride, but with a lot more rhythm. Every performance was a fiesta, every album a celebration.

Her album ‘Celia Cruz y Johnny Pacheco’ (1974) was a landmark in her career, and the release of ‘Celia Cruz con la Sonora Matancera’ (1983) cemented her as a living legend in the Latin music world. It was the album ‘Salsa y Control’ (1986), however, that really captured the global imagination—ushering her into the realm of international superstardom, all while making “Azúcar!” the most famous phrase since “I’m lovin’ it.” The phrase became synonymous with her joyful, exuberant approach to life.

Throughout the '80s and '90s, Celia's discography expanded like a sugar rush that never stopped, churning out hits like "La Vida Es Un Carnaval" and "Quimbara," and of course, her iconic "Bemba Colora." These songs didn’t just fill dance floors—they practically commanded people to get up and move, even if they had two left feet and no rhythm. Celia’s personality was so magnetic that it didn’t matter what language you spoke or what culture you came from—when Celia sang, everyone danced. Her albums in the '90s, including ‘La Negra Tiene Tumbao’ (2001) and ‘Ritmo de la Noche’ (1998), proved that Celia was not just a legend in the past, but a constant force pushing Latin music forward.

At this point, her voice was less a mere instrument and more an international treasure—one that could stop traffic and melt hearts with a single note. No discussion of Celia Cruz’s career would be complete without mentioning her greatest trademark: the word “Azúcar!” Meaning "sugar" in Spanish, the word became her battle cry, her signature phrase, and a representation of her sweet and infectious spirit. Whether it was in a song, a live performance, or a spontaneous outburst, “Azúcar!” became a symbol of her ability to bring joy, energy, and unbridled enthusiasm wherever she went.

The phrase became so ingrained in the public’s mind that it transcended music and became part of the Latin cultural lexicon. It was inextricably linked to Celia Cruz’s persona. She was sugar—sweet, intoxicating, and absolutely essential to the flavor of life. When she shouted "¡Azúcar!" at her concerts, it wasn’t just a call to the audience; it was a reminder that the world could be full of sweetness, even in the most difficult times.