Celia Cruz was born in October 21, 1925 in Havana, Cuba and died at the age of July 16, 2003 in Fort Lee, New Jersey. She was the second of fourth child even though there were fourteen in her household. Her parents were not musicians. Her grandmother said that Cruz could sing before she could talk. She started at an early age singing for gatherings, at school productions and sang for her siblings to sleep. In her teen years she started entering competitions winning small rewards. She was often taken to the cabarets and nightclubs by her aunt where she was introduced to the world of music. With the encouragement of her cousin she started to win local talent shows. Her father never wanted her to become a singer but a teacher but Cruz followed
