Celina González, a leading voice of country music in Cuba, was remembered by cultural institutions on the eighth anniversary of her death, on February 4, 2015.
The Institute of Music pointed out that “during his career, of more than seven decades, González achieved great popularity on the Caribbean island and left emblematic songs from the national soundtrack for posterity, among them A Saint Barbara, I am the Cuban Point, long live chango, my land is like this and flowers for your altar”.
The institution added on its official Facebook profile that Celina “was one of the most recognized voices in the musical field, whose work highlighted peasant roots and the influence of African religion.”
Celina González (La Luisa, Jovellanos, March 16, 1928) died at the age of 85 after a career of obligatory reference, not only in Cuban music, but throughout the world. Her songs enunciated the most rooted Cuban identity to become a symbolic source of cultural traditions on the island
Known as the queen of the Cuban point, the singer performed on important international stages in Latin America, Europe, and Africa. One of the countries in which she revalidated her legendary status was Colombia, where she received a string of recognitions and the public acclaimed her fervently during all the presentations she held in the Latin American country.
With Reutilio Domínguez, her partner and husband, she made an era on stage until the duo dissolved in 1964. Their repertoire also includes songs such as Saint Barbara either Long live Chango!, Eleguá’s son, Saint Lazarus, To the Copper Charity.
Last year the Bis Music label presented the album “Sigue cantando Celina”, with 10 songs popularized by the artist, which in Cuba has been covered by numerous musicians, including David Blanco, who has taken up the theme I am the Cuban point and has made it known successfully among the youngest, wrapped in an energetic mix between rock and pop.
