Celia

Celia TV Show Synopsis:

Úrsula Hilaria Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso, better known as Celia Cruz, was born in a working-class neighborhood of Havana in 1925. Despite her humble origins, she came into this world under a lucky star that would follow her for the rest of her life, helping her overcome the many obstacles in her way as her talent, voice and charm transformed her from a timid young girl into the most successful and beloved female Latin singer of all time.
In an era when female performers were branded as little more than tramps, Celia forged ahead, breaking down barriers and making a name for herself as the lead singer for the hottest musical group of the day: “La Sonora Matancera.” But Celia’s success came at the same time that Cuban society was sliding inexorably toward a revolution that would dramatically change the course of the country and Celia’s career.
Touring Mexico at the time with “La Sonora Matancera,” Celia had no way of knowing that she would be away from home not just for a short period but for the rest of her life. She would never again tread on Cuban soil or see her family, including her mother, who had fallen sick with cancer. With the band was Pedro Knight, a skirt-chasing musician who would gradually win her heart and become the love of her life. Along with this new passion came a string of musical hits.
Celia’s time with “La Sonora Matancera” opened the doors to the Latin music scene in New York. Word of her talent reached Tito Puente and, later, Jhonny Pacheco, who was then in the process of forming “La Fania All Stars,” bringing together some of the top names in salsa in New York. Celia was soon one of their brightest stars. “La Guarachera,” as she became known, conquered all those who saw her live or listened to her records. Her success paralleled the rise of her good friend in Cuba, Lola Calvo, whose spectacular vocal talent made her Celia’s closest rival.
This is the story of Celia, the shy Cuban girl who never stopped singing and spreading a message of freedom to her people. Her powerful voice transcended borders and languages, igniting a revolution of its own that made salsa the best-known style of Latin music around the world. Even far from Cuban shores, Celia, like the music she created, honored her homeland and showed us all that there are no impossible dreams.