NPR Features Celia Cruz as One of Top 50 Voices

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NPR is producing a series on the Top 50 voices of all-time, and yes, Cuban singer Celia Cruz made the list.

A friend of mine emailed me this news about the NPR Top 50 List, and that Celia had made it. For me, the good thing of blogging about music is that people start sending you comments and links to music related news or events. For you, the good thing about reading Lain music blogs is that you get to benefit also, as I’m going to share this treat with you. 🙂

In my previous blog, “My Favorite Celia Cruz Recordings“, I mentioned my favorite Celia Cruz album was the 1974 “Celia & Johnny”, which featured the hit song “Quimbara”. I said “Quimbara” was not one of my favorite songs of the album, but it was a huge hit.

Celia Cruz in the 1974 album Celia & Johnny
The 1974 album “Celia & Johnny”

As NPR featured Celia Cruz in their Morning Edition clip, the song featured to showcase Celia’s voice was precisely “Quimbara”. The song certainly showcases her voice. As I wrote and showed in the video I shared in my previous blog, Celia Cruz’s voice impresses even in a simple sound check.

So I don’t think it would surprise any Latin music fan that Celia Cruz made one of the Top 50 voices. I think we are more grateful for the fact that she wasn’t overlooked, as so often happens with Latinos.

The NPR piece adds a video of Celia Cruz performaing “Quimbara” with the Fania All Stars. It raises my hairs to see Celia in 1974, with a slim body, a Cuban “rumbera”-type dress, singing and dancing like only she could do. Again, the Fania All Stars of 1974 were at their peak, and this video is certainly a treat. The NPR piece is worth listening.

The link to NPR’s Morning Edition featuring Celia is HERE.

Enjoy!

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6 Comments
  1. Angella says

    Greetings 😀 Is it OK that I go a bit off topic? I’m trying to read your post on my new iPhone but it doesn’t display properly, any suggestions? Thanks! Angella x 🙂

  2. Hector Aviles says

    Hi Angella,
    I’m working on some changes to the web site which would include support for mobile.

    Thanks!

  3. Latino Music UK says

    Celia is a true Legend, Definately one of the all time greats.

  4. Hector Aviles says

    I’m glad to see there is a Latino Music in the UK. Yes, Celia is the great one in Latin music.

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