Died On This Date (July 16, 2003) Celia Cruz / The Queen Of Salsa
themusicsover Celia Cruz (Born Ursula Alfonzo)
October 21, 1925 – July 16, 2003
Celia Cruz was an internationally famous Cuban salsa singer who has been rightfully called the Queen of Salsa. Over the course of a career that spanned 50 years, Cruz earned 23 gold albums, making her one of the most successful Cuban and salsa singers. Born in Havana, Cruz was exposed to its beautiful music at a very young age, and by the time she was in her early 20s, she was making recordings for local radio stations, and by the time she was 25, she was fronting a popular Cuban orchestra. In 1959, she and her husband moved to New York City and became U.S. citizens soon after. Cruz recorded several albums with Tito Puente during the ’60s, but it wasn’t until her 1974 release, Celia y Johnny with Johnny Pacheco, did she hit her stride. Big concert halls and television appearances soon followed, and Cruz became an international star. She went on to win three Grammys and another four Latin Grammys. On July 16, 2003, Celia Cruz died of a brain tumor at the age of 77. While her body laid in state in downtown Miami, more than 200,000 people came by to pay their respects.
What You Should Own
Jo Stafford was one of America’s greatest voices over a career that spanned some forty years. Stafford’s first job of note was singing back-up on Fred Astaire’s soundtrack to A Damsel In Distress. Stafford soon joined the vocal group, the Pied Pipers whose popularity grew thanks in part, to their regular appearances on 
Carlos Torres Vila was a popular Argentinine folk singer whose career exploded during the ’70s thanks to his good looks and romantic folk songs. He released around two dozen albums over the course of his career. Carlos Torres Vila was 63 when he passed away following a long illness.