[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 107 (Friday, July 18, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1526]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING THE LIFE OF CELIA CRUZ

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEVEN R. ROTHMAN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 17, 2003

  Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to pay tribute to the 
``Queen of Salsa,'' Celia Cruz. Ms. Cruz passed away yesterday at her 
home in Fort Lee, New Jersey, which is located in my Congressional 
District. She is survived by her husband Pedro Knight.
  Born in Havana, Cuba, Celia Cruz fled to the United States to free 
herself of the brutal dictatorship of Fidel Castro. She became a United 
States citizen in 1961, and refused to return to her homeland as long 
as Castro remained in power. She did, however, attempt to return to 
Cuba for her father's funeral, but Castro refused to give her 
permission to attend.
  Celia Cruz is widely considered to be a pioneer of salsa--reinventing 
and bringing Latin music to its now more familiar sound of upbeat 
vigorous dance rhythms and rich musical flavors. She was a true 
performer. Her powerful alto voice carried her concerts, which were 
accompanied by sensational dancing that always seemed to lift audience 
members from their seats as they joined along.
  With a genuine love of life and passion for family and friends, Celia 
Cruz represented the true spirit of the Latin people through her music. 
Her music spread across the world. From Latin America to Asia, the 
music of Celia Cruz touched the lives of countless people of all races, 
religions, and ethnicities.
  Throughout her six decade-long career, in which she recorded more 
than 70 albums and performed in 10 movies, Celia Cruz received many 
great honors, including a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, five Grammy 
Awards, two Latin Grammy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the 
Smithsonian Institution and the National Medal of Arts, which President 
Clinton awarded her in 1994. Celia Cruz also received honorary 
doctorates from Yale University, the University of Miami, and Florida 
International University. Additionally, streets in Costa Rica, Mexico, 
Miami, and New York bear her name.
  The world has suffered a great loss with the passing of Celia Cruz. 
But the world is a much richer place thanks to the timeless music that 
she gave all of us, which will surely be passed on from generation to 
generation. To all of her fans from around and the world, and to Celia 
Cruz herself who is still with us in spirit and looking down upon us 
from heaven, I say, Azucar!

                          ____________________