Trivia

Died two days after celebrating her 41st wedding anniversary.

Pictured on one of five nondenominated USA commemorative stamps honoring Latin Music Legends, issued on 16 March 2011; price on day of issue was 44¢. The other stamps honored Tito Puente, Carmen Miranda, Selena, and Carlos Gardel.

Recorded over 70 albums during her 50-year career.

Left Cuba in 1959 when Fidel Castro came into power. She and her band, La Sonora Matancera, toured Mexico for two years before finally moving to the United States, where she has since resided.

A section of Miami's famed Calle Ocho (Southwest 8 Street) was renamed Celia Cruz Way in her honor.

Her public wake in Miami brought over 100,000 fans from all over the world to pay their final respects to her.

Buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, NY.

Was of Afro-Cuban descent

Has a star on both Hollywood's Walk of Fame and Miami's Walk of Fame.

Was also known for her shout of "Azúcar!", which means "Sugar".

A monument in front of the city hall in Union City, NJ, was dedicated in her honor after her death. A marker with her name lies between the American and Cuban flags. Union City has one of the largest Cuban populations in the United States outside of the Miami area.

La India calls Celia Cruz her "godmother" because Cruz encouraged and supported her singing career.

Was the third major Cuban salsa star to die in the same week. The other two were Compay Segundo and Tito Duarte.

She was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1994 by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington D.C.

Awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6240 Hollywood Blvd.

She was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2013 for her services to arts and entertainment.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages 115-117. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007.