Celia Cruz – Cuban Musical Legend and Queen of Salsa

For more than half a century, Celia Cruz, the Queen of Salsa carried her title with class and distinction. Her powerful voice and electrifying rhythm garnered more than 100 worldwide recognitions, multiple platinum and gold records, three GRAMMY awards and four Latin GRAMMY awards, as well as a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Her boundless enthusiasm, genuine warmth, and deep-seated humanitarianism made Celia Cruz the music industry’s most accomplished and revered performer … and the world’s most notable ambassador of Hispanic culture. Celia Cruz Website

On Saturday Night, I was the DJ & MC for a very fun 50th Birthday Party at Iberia Peninsula      Restaurant in Newark, New Jersey. Of course, the music was fabulous with the diverse party guests from New Jersey and New York City from all cultures and walks of life. I find it such a fun challenge to provide music for dancing for diverse audiences that don’t all enjoy the same music. It reminds if my days as a community organizer bringing groups together to create a common positive goal as one.

The playlist we created in advance included lots of Frank Sinatra, Rod Stewart, 80’s Dance Music, Thrift Shop and a significant chunk of Salsa, Merengue and Flamenco songs. Of course, Celia Cruz La Vida Es Un Carnaval was near the top of the DJ song list, in the “must-play” category, and we did. As usual, the response was great and the dance floor was packed with dancers smiling with joy. I thought it was time for me to pay tribute to Celia Cruz and her greatness, especially since she is somewhat of a local legend living many years in New Jersey.

Celia Cruz – La Vida Es Un Carnaval Music Video

“I feel very fortunate to have called Celia Cruz my friend. She was an inspiration not only as an artist but as a woman and a remarkable human being.” Gloria Estefan
 

(Celia Cruz) Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso de la Santísima Trinidad (October 21, 1925 – July 16, 2003) was a Cuban-American salsa performer. One of the most popular salsa artists of the 20th century, she earned twenty-three gold albums and was renowned internationally as the “Queen of Salsa” as well as “La Guarachera de Cuba.”

She spent much of her career living in New Jersey, and working in the United States and several Latin American countries. Leila Cobo of Billboard Magazine once said “Cruz is indisputably the best known and most influential female figure in the history of Cuban music.”

“Celia Cruz was an absolute pillar as a human being and one of the most unselfish humanitarians I have ever met and am sure I will ever have known.” Marc Anthony

Celia Cruz Legacy

In February 2004, Celia Cruz last album, Regalo del Alma, won a posthumous award at the Premios Lo Nuestro for best Salsa release of the year. It was announced in December 2005 that a musical called “Assuca” would open in Tenerife before touring the world. The name comes from Cruz’s well-known catch phrase of “¡Azúcar!”

Celia Cruz Park Union City New Jersey with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

On June 4, 2004, the heavily Cuban-American community of Union City, New Jersey heralded its annual Cuban Day Parade by dedicating its new Celia Cruz Park (also known as Celia Cruz Plaza), which features a sidewalk star in her honor, at 31st Street and Bergenline Avenue, with Celia Cruz’s widower, Pedro Knight, present. There are four other similar dedications to Cruz around the world. Celia Cruz’s star has expanded into Union City’s “Walk of Fame”, as new marble stars are added each spring to honor Latin entertainment and media personalities, such as merengue singer Joseíto Mateo, salsa singer La India, Cuban musician Israel “Cachao” Lopez, Cuban tenor Beny MoréTito Puente, Spanish language television news anchor Rafael Pineda, salsa pioneer Johnny Pacheco, singer/bandleader Gilberto Santa Rosa and music promoter Ralph Mercado.

Fun Rhode Island Multicultural DJ plays Celia Cruz at Party

On May 18, 2005, the National Museum of American History, administered by the Smithsonian Institution and located in Washington, D.C., opened “¡Azúcar!”, an exhibit celebrating the life and music of Celia Cruz. The exhibit highlights important moments in Cruz’s life and career through photographs, personal documents, costumes, videos, and music.

On September 26, 2007, through May 25, 2008, Celia, a musical based on the life of Celia Cruz, played at the off-Broadway venue, New World Stages. Some performances were in Spanish and some in English. The show won four 2008 HOLA awards from the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors.

Fun Rhode Island DJ plays Celia Cruz

“I had the honor and pleasure of photographing Celia for twelve years. I’ll never forget her smile and her amazing energy. The biggest thing about Celia is that she never knew how great she truly was. She always made me feel so proud to be Cuban.”

Alexis Rodriguez-Duarte

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

973.908.8147

Damaris 50th Birthday Party

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Marc Anthony Aguanile

Marc Anthony Aguanile Lyrics

Aguanile…Aguanile

Godly saint, strong saint, immortal saint
Aguanile, Aguanile Mai Mai
Aguanile, Aguanile, Mai Mai
Eh Aguanile, Aguanile Mai Mai
Aguanile, Aguanile, Mai Mai
Aguanile, Aguanile, Mai Mai

Eh kyrie eleison christe eleison Don’t interfere with my drunkenness

Que yo tambien me se de’so
Aguanile, Aguanile, Mai Mai
Aguanile, Aguanile, Mai Mai

Listen, everyone who can pray, pray
to stop the war
It won’t stop on its own, that would be a rarity

Aguanile, Aguanile, Mai Mai
Aguanile, Aguanile, Mai Mai
Ay tambores umaculli, Tambores umaculla
Everyone on the floor
The earth is going to shake
Aguanile, Aguanile, Mai Mai
Aguanile, Aguanile, Mai Mai
Que abonbon chele abonbonchacha

I drink to sprinkle on women

Oh that the three nails of the cross
Get behind me
Let them speak and he will answer them
Oh God that criticizes me
I have aguanile mai mai

Aguanile, Aguanile, Mai Mai
Aguanile, Aguanile, Mai Mai
A jew that yells at its horse without compassion
like Jesus they crucified, dead because of a betrayal
Aguanile, Aguanile, Mai Mai
Aguanile, Aguanile, Mai Mai
eh abongonchele abongochacha
aguanile Bless me with women
Aguanile, Aguanile, Mai Mai
Aguanile, Aguanile, Mai Mai
ay aguanile, aguanile Give me water
I’m thirty and I want to drink
ataca quintero!
Aguanile, Aguanile, Mai Mai
Aguanile, Aguanile, Mai Mai
Aguanile, Aguanile, Mai Mai

Fun Rhode Island Wedding DJ with Salsa Dancing Marc Anthony Aguanile

The first time I heard Marc Anthony Aguanile, I knew it was about something more than just romance or dancing, even with my limited Spanish. I could feel the energy and passion that emanates from the beat, chorus and vocals. This version of Marc Anthony Aguanile is from the film El Cantante. As a professional Wedding and Party DJ, I can feel the lyrics of Marc Anthony Aguanile even when I can’t understand them.

 Marc Anthony Aguanile and His Story

Marc Anthony (born Marco Antonio Muñiz; September 16, 1968) is an American musician, singer-songwriter, actor and producer. Anthony is the top selling tropical Salsa artist of all time. The two-time Grammy and three-time Latin Grammy-winner has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. He is best known for his Latin salsa numbers and ballads.

 Marc Anthony Aguanile Music Video

El Cantante (English: The Singer) is the soundtrack to the film by Marc Anthony. The album was released on July 24, 2007. The entire album, with the exception of the last track “Toma de Mí”, is a cover album of songs originally written and recorded by the famous Puerto Rican Slasa icon Héctor Lavoe.

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ