Celia Cruz, Queen of Latin music, dies of brain tumor in New Jersey

Jet, August 4, 2003

Celia Cruz, the spirited Queen of Salsa music whose career spanned more than five decades and helped to define that music genre, recently died from complications of a brain tumor in her New Jersey home. She was 78.

The crown jewel of Latin music wowed music lovers with her trademark call Azucar!, which means sugar in Spanish, her colorful outfits and strong voice that pulsated Afro-Cuban rhythms.

Cruz recorded more than 70 albums; eight of those albums were recorded with late Latin jazz great Tito Puente. Her best-known songs included Yerberito Moderno and Que le Den Candela. She also recorded a Spanish version of Gloria Gaynor's classic disco hit I Will Survive (Yo Vivire).

The Cuban-born singer won over a new generation of followers when she performed on the crossover song Guantanamera on the 1997 CD Wyclef Jean Presents the Carnival Featuring the Refugee Allstars.

Cruz earned two Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Awards. In 1994, she received the National Medal of the Arts from Bill Clinton.

She is survived by her husband of 41 years, Cuban composer Pedro Knight, who was by her side when she died.