Florida International University in Miami has been gifted the Celia Cruz Music Score Collection, a cultural treasure that includes 230 long- and short-form musical scores belonging to the legendary Cuban singer, who died in 2003. The Celia Cruz Foundation donated the collection to the university.
Known as the “Queen of Salsa,” Cruz had a powerful voice, energetic stage presence and a unique style that won her fans from different nations and across generations. One of the few women to succeed in the male-dominated world of salsa music, she was a dazzling performer of many genres of Afro-Caribbean music for over five decades and recorded more than 50 albums. She received many honors during her career, including three Grammy Awards, four Latin Grammy Awards, the President’s National Medal of Arts and countless lifetime achievement awards.
“Celia’s most fervent wish was to ensure her legacy lives on for generations,” said Omer Pardillo Cid, executor of the Celia Cruz Estate. “Donating her original musical scores will provide future students with a unique way to study her repertoire – the way she would have done it.”
A video about the Celia Cruz Collection may be viewed below.