Celia Cruz Day declared in L.A. honoring 100 years of the Queen

“Azúcar.” The word still vibrates through time: a burst of sweetness, pride, and unapologetic joy that Celia Cruz turned into an anthem for generations. It wasn’t just her catchphrase; it was her command to live it up. This October, Los Angeles answered that call with music, movement, and love.

At City Hall, the Los Angeles County Council officially declared October 17th as Celia Cruz Day, commemorating the centennial of the “Reina de la Salsa.” It wasn’t a stiff political ceremony: it was a fiesta. The marble halls pulsed with rhythm as dancers from the Stephanie Stevenson Latin Dance Studio filled the space with salsa, hips, and color. Angela Townsend and Elijah Gil were there for LatiNation’s field segment, witnessing a crowd united by a single beat, the one Celia left behind.

 

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Remembering the Queen of Salsa

Born in Havana, Cuba, Celia Cruz built a career that transcended continents and genres. Her voice, deep, joyous, and commanding, transformed salsa into a global language of resistance, love, and cultural pride. She won multiple Grammy Awards, sold millions of albums, and opened doors for future generations of Afro-Latina artists. Her laughter, her towering wigs, her gowns, and her cry of “¡Azúcar!” became more than her signature; they became cultural landmarks.

The celebration in Los Angeles was part of a wave of global tributes honoring 100 years since her birth. Among the guests was Mellow Man Ace, the pioneering Cuban rapper known for his bilingual hits and love for his roots. He toured with Celia Cruz during her lifetime, and for him, the moment carried weight beyond nostalgia.

A Legacy That Refuses Silence

In 2024, Celia Cruz became the first Afro-Latina artist featured on a U.S. quarter, a historic honor that turned her image into both currency and symbol, a reminder that her legacy isn’t confined to records or stages. Her music continues to live wherever joy meets resistance, from Havana block parties to L.A. dance floors.

The city’s declaration isn’t simply about remembrance; it’s about motion. Every time a young performer picks up a mic, every time a DJ drops La Vida Es un Carnaval, every time someone shouts “¡Azúcar!” with conviction, Celia’s story expands.

 

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Celia’s Rhythm Lives On

Though Celia Cruz passed away in 2003, her music has never gone quiet. The Los Angeles tribute felt less like a goodbye and more like a heartbeat, proof that her rhythm still leads the way. From Havana to Hollywood, Celia’s legacy keeps the dance floor alive.

So when October 17th rolls around, play her music loud. Dance in your living room. Shout “¡Azúcar!” at your coffee. Let the Queen of Salsa remind you that life, even after 100 years, is still a carnival.
Watch LatiNation’s full field segment featuring Angela Townsend, Elijah Gil, and Mellow Man Ace, who toured with the late singer and talked with us about the impact that she has had on society and Latino culture from the past, present, and future. Celia didn’t just give us songs, she gave us permission to celebrate ourselves.