This 2025 we celebrated the centenary of Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso, which was born in Havana on October 21, 1925. For Cuba and for the world it is and will simply be Celia Cruz, the queen, with her vibrant ¡Sugar !!
Just a couple of days after arriving in New York, I ran into the news. It was on a scale, reviewing the phone, when I read a publication of the Cuban musicologist Rosa Marquetti: a concert tribute to Celia was scheduled at Central Park, and chance made me match this event.
The poster announced figures of Cuban music inside and outside the island. There would be Issac Delgado, Alain Pérez, Aymée Nuviola, Lena Burke, Melvis Santa and Brenda Navarrete. There was no doubt: I couldn’t miss it.
Since I wasted in this city I have not stopped walking and photographing. New York is an avalanche of faces, languages, accents, contrasts.
To get to the tribute I decided to do it on foot, as a way to continue knowing her. Google Maps marked me an hour of travel: fifteen blocks along the fifth avenue, passing in front of the Cathedral of San Patricio, bend in 57 and take the sixth – the Avenida de las Américas – until it flows into the central Park.
In the previous search I found a fact that shuddered me: when Celia died, in 2003, her coffin toured the fifth avenue in a funeral procession before the funeral in San Patricio. A white horses run through 30 blocks. Without knowing it, and by chance or destiny, I was making a similar path.
The route gave me another surprise. Just at the corner of La Sexta and 59th Street, where the statue of José Martí, flanked by Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín, should enter the park.
I was going to a tribute to Celia Cruz and, before arriving, I received the most universal of the Cubans. Cuba in capital letters: Martí and Celia, two illustrious children, also protagonists of this city that condenses races, cultures and creeds.
I crossed half a park until reaching Rumsey Playfield, a stage where Celia appeared for the last time in New York, in 2001. There would take place the tribute, as part of Summerstage, the largest outdoor arts festival that every summer agitates the central Park.
The place was full. I imagined that the Cuban and Latin public greater than 50 would predominate, people who perhaps saw it live, but the mosaic was much broader: yes, there were Cubans, and many Latinos, but also Asians, Europeans, American, American of all ages, and a multitude of young people who danced alongside melómanos veteran.
The orchestra, impeccably dressed in Blanco, formed by Latin musicians, including the legend of the three, the Puerto Rican Nelson González, the second three of Fania, who worked for a long time with Celia, opened the afternoon-night.
On a giant screen there were photos and videos of Celia, with artists, presidents and personalities around the world. Always his smile, always intact energy, as if at any time went to the stage.
Melvis Santa, Piano, and Brenda Navarrete, in the Batá drums, marked the start. Then Alain Pérez came with his charisma, Lena Burke honoring his last name, his grandmother Elena and his mother Malena; Aymée Nuviola set up the stage with her powerful voice and cubanía, in addition to interacting with the public to make us feel in family.
In front of them, people from all over the world honoring the immense Celia Cruz.
Aymée gave way and presented with emotion to ISSAC Delgado. In the stage of the stage, Issac and Aymeé merged into hug. After the performance of the Chévere de la Salsa, all together they closed singing the famous theme “Life is a carnival” before an excited, euphoric audience, dancing and chanting.
At the end of the concert I could sneak into the dressing rooms and found ISSAC. I commented on how it seemed to me that all the singers were Cubans, but some coming from Cuba and others from the United States, and seeing them do this party together on stage.
“We are from different generations, of different thoughts, from different parts (some live in Cuba and others here), but we are brothers of the same land and Celia joined us” … and pointed to heaven.
