Diva Cruz, 77, blazes a hot salsa trail

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Celia Cruz has been performing for more than 50 years, beginning in her homeland of Cuba before moving to the United States in 1962. Celia Cruz with Yari Moré y su Orquestra 7:30 p.m. today; doors open 7 p.m. Sheraton Waikiki Hawaii Ballroom $40, $50, $75 526-4400, 941-5216 Also: Performances by local bands Son Caribe and Salsaloha

"I work very hard and travel all the time," said Cuban-born and fan-acclaimed "Queen of Salsa" Celia Cruz via e-mail. "But I do take my vacations and rest when I'm home (in New Jersey). I'm also very lucky because my husband (of 40 years, trumpeter Pedro Knight) is always with me, takes great care of me, and we have the (opportunity of) being always together."

Anything else?

"We eat right and try to rest, even when we're away from home."

Long-patient Honolulu fans of Cruz will finally get their chance to mambo, cha-cha, rumba and whatever else they want to do at the legendary Latin diva's second Hawai'i concert ever (her local debut was last night on Maui) tonight at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel's Hawaii Ballroom.

"I've never been approached to perform (in Hawai'i), even though I've been there many times on vacation," said Cruz, who plans to shop a lot and visit friends while here. "I really hope that (everyone) enjoys the music and ... dances all night long."

Cruz also promised that her energetic stage show (with "official" West Coast orchestra Yari Moré y su Orquestra) would feature one of her famously flamboyant costumes, a possible appearance by her towering nine-inch heels, and "a very nice wig for all my fans in Hawai'i."

Born and reared in the Havana barrio of Santa Suarez, Cruz began singing on Cuban radio and in local concerts while studying at Havana's National Music Conservatory in the 1940s. Her powerhouse voice and playfully sexy mannerisms eventually won her a lead-vocalist spot in Cuba's legendary La Sonora Matancera orchestra in 1950. Though the band gained fame with residents and visitors during Cuba's waning years as a tropical hideaway for the rich and famous, its entire membership (under the guise of a tour, no less) defected to the United States in 1960, seeking asylum from Fidel Castro's regime.

Cruz settled in New York City and married La Sonora first trumpeter Knight in 1962, leaving the band for a solo career in 1965. The four decades since saw Cruz' star rise and fall on the strength of Afro-Cuban music trends before settling somewhat in the late 1980s as vocalists such as Gloria Estefan and Jon Secada began crediting her as an influence.

Over the years, Cruz has recorded with many noted musicians, including Estefan, David Byrne, Patti LaBelle, Wyclef Jean and most famously, the late Tito Puente, with whom she partnered on eight albums.

Although Cruz was awarded the National Endowment of the Arts medal (one of the highest U.S. honors bestowed on artists) by President Bill Clinton, she considers her 1987 star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame her greatest honor because it came from fan requests — including one from former President Ronald Reagan.

These days, Cruz's mission is keeping her infectiously danceable brand of salsa true to the music's Cuban roots while incorporating contemporary styles and instrumentation for new audiences. Her 79th and most recent album, 2001's "La Negra Tiene Tumbao," with its funky splashes of hip-hop, house and dancehall-style toasting, received two Latin Grammy nominations this week for album and salsa album of the year. Its title track was nominated for record and music video of the year. The singer has been nominated for 19 Grammys, winning three times.

In May, "La Negra" peaked at No. 5 on Billboard's Tropical/Salsa chart and at No. 60 on the Top Latin Albums chart.

Cruz said she has few career goals left other than to continue touring, record a CD of new bolero songs, and to perform in Cuba "once the present political regime is out of there."

Retirement? Not just yet, said Cruz, who admitted — without the least bit of morbidness — that she "would like to die singing on stage."

A good idea, perhaps, considering what she said she would otherwise do with all the free time that accompanies retirement.

"Read, (and) watch soap operas on TV," she said. "But I do that when I'm home now anyway."