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Early singing competition: La Hora del Té
Clothing worn to the first major singing competition in Havana, Cuba: White dress, White Stockings, White Patent Leather Shoes (Dress pictured is a replica). Celia was 22 years old. -
Celia Cruz and La Sonora Matancera
One of the first photos was taken with the full La Sonora Matancera band. On August 3, 1950, Celia Cruz makes her debut with La Sonora Matancera. Photo by Narcy Studios, Cuba. Celia was 25 years old. -
Period: to
Early Years w/ Sonora Matancera
Celia Cruz's relationship with the Seeco label headed by Sydney Siegel and Sonora Matancera. https://fania.com/eras/celia-cruz-la-sonora-matancera-canta-celia-cruz/ -
Early career with La Sonora Matancera
Publicity Still. Taken in Habana, Cuba. Celia was 30 years old. -
Mid-Career with Sonora Matancera
Celia performed at Los Globos in Mexico. María Félix, the great Mexican screen star, is sitting at the far left. Celia was 32 years old. -
Mid-Career with Sonora
Celia and the Sonora Matancera in "El Teatro de La Habana". Taken in Habana, Cuba. Celia was 32 years old. -
Late Sonora Matancera
1960 album cover. Celia was 35 years old. -
Late Sonora Matancera
Taken during a performance in Habana, Cuba. Celia was 37 years old. -
Late Sonora Matancera
Pictured: Chino Hassán (in a white short-sleeve shirt), Celia, Pedro Knight, and the Sonora. "My relationship with the Seco label and the Sonora Matancera came to an end in 1965." - Celia Cruz. Celia was 40 years old. -
Post Sonora Matancera
Tito Puente offers a record deal. Celia signs with Tico Records. Celia was 40 years old. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images. -
Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco
After the 1973 New York performance at Carnegie Hall Celia negotiates a release from her contract with Morris Levy. Celia records the historic Celia & Johnny album this same year. Celia was 48 years old. -
Celia Cruz performs at Zaire Africa
The only female artist to perform in front of a sold-out stadium of 80,000 people. Celia was 49 years old. -
Celia Cruz performs at Zaire Africa
Celia Cruz performs with Fania All Stars along with the best singers from Motown including, James Brown and B.B. King. Concert was a prelude to the famous fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Celia was 49 years old. -
Celia Cruz performs at Madison Square Garden
Celia performs one of the first concerts at the then-newly inaugurated Madison Square Garden. Celia was 50 years old. -
Celia performs in Paris
Celia Cruz performed in Paris at the Olympia in 1980. Celia was 55 years old. -
Celia returns to Madison Square Garden
Celia returns to MSG with a concert honoring her. Celia is introduced this night too, Ruthie Sánchez, who would go on to create all her innovative hairdos. Celia was 57 years old. Photographer: Conzo, Joe, Jr. (American hip-hop photographer). -
Celia returns to Europe with Salsa
Celia performs in London. Celia was 61 years old. Photo Credit: Michael Putland / Contributor. -
Celia 25th Wedding Anniversary
Celia celebrates 25 years with Pedro. Celia was 62 years old. -
Celia performs for the last time with La Sonora Matancera
Celia with La Sonora Matancera performs for the final time together. Concert was put on as a thank you to their fans.
Central Park, New York. Celia was 64 years old. -
Celia goes to Guantánamo
Celia is invited to perform for the US troops. Celia was 65 years old. -
Celia models for Thierry Mugler
Celia is a model for this show and also sings "Químbara".
Earlier this year her album featured the outfit, with the same hairpiece, worn at the fashion show. Celia was 68 years old. -
Celia performs at Madison Square Garden
Discovering after the performance of her opening act, Isaac Delgado is a performer officially sanctioned by the Castro regime and who still lived in Cuba. Her manager, Ralphy, was promoting Isaac, as well as, distributing his records.
Ralphy and his management company, RMM, were fired a few days later. Later that year, Celia signs with Sony and begins a new phase in her career by recording, "Siempre Vivire" ("I Will Survive"). Celia was 74 years old. -
Celia recovers from knee surgery
She had no plans on going to Grammy's later this year.
Celia needed a cane to walk as she recovered. Celia's age starts to take its toll. Celia was 75 years old. -
Celia at 1st Annual Latin Grammy Awards
Celia decides to wear a blue wig to distract from her walking limp. Blue wig lands Celia on the front cover of "Hola" magazine the next morning. Celia wins first Grammy for Best Salsa Performance. Celia was 75 years old. -
Celia records: "La Negra Tiene Tumbao"
2002 Music video that would put Celia at the center of the modern cultural map. Song was the first to combine salsa and rap. Celia was 77 years old. -
Celia at 2002 Grammys
"I chose a white-and-blue (wig) that was so loud that when I walked on stage, the audience was more amazed than they were the previous year when I wore the blue one that caused such a stir." Celia win Best Song of the Year that evening. Celia was 77 years old. -
Celia's final album and performance
Regalo del Alma (Gift from the Soul). The last album Celia would record. "We recorded all ten tracks of the album during ten days of heavy snowfall." - Celia Cruz. On March 13th Celia wore the same outfit pictured on her album cover. For the Telemundo tribute concert entitled "Celia Cruz: Azùcar!" It would be the last time fans and the world would see her before her passing on July 16, 2003. Celia was 78 years old.