Specific Goal: To inform my audience about the life of Celia Cruz

INTRODUCTION:
I.
(Attention-Grabber) To begin, I would like to play you all a
snippet of a
song.
II.
(Credibility) While studying abroad in Antigua, Guatemala I was
able to take
formal salsa dancing lessons.
A.
III.

I was introduced to the music of Celia Cruz.

We may not be in Guatemala, but Cincinnati is full of salsa flavor.

A.
This can be seen clearly every summer at Fountain Square
for Salsa on
the Square.
B.
(Relevance to Audience) Whether youve already been
to Salsa on
the Square this past summer event or if you
would like to go in the
near future, you need to know who
Celia Cruz is to truly understand
the world of salsa.
Thesis: We will explore the life of Celia Cruz by diving into her early
music career, examining her cultural influences on salsa music, and
looking at her legacy.
(Link: First, a look at her early years.)
BODY:
I.
Celia Cruz was born Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso in Havana, Cuba
on October 21, 1925.
A.
many

During her early years, Cruz was heavily influenced by the

musical varieties present in Cuba.

B.
As a teenager, she entered and won many amateur and
radio contest.
1.
However, her big break came when she was hired as
a lead
singer
for the legendary orchestra
group, La Sonora
Matancera.
2.
Tropicana

Cruz and La Sonora Matancera often played at the

nightclub.

a. This is where she developed a taste for elaborate

customers and as a solo singer.

show

C.
During Fidel Castros rise to power, Cruz and La Sonora
Matancera
defected from Cuba to the United States.
D.

Upon arriving in the U.S., Cruz was relatively unknown.

1.

It wasnt until she began collaborating with musicians

such as
Tito Puente, Johnny Pacheco, and the
Fania All Stars that Cruz
became know for her
role in salsa music.
E.
Celia gained popularity for salsa music in 1970 when she
was named
the queen of salsa.
(Link: As she developed her music, Cruz began to heavily influence
salsa music, bringing us to our next point.)
II.
As a show-stopping performer in the salsa world, Cruz committed
herself
entirety to the performance.
A.
She had a strong, husky voice that could hold its own
against a
hardworking rhythm section, and was a
tireless dancer,
storyteller, and audiencerouser.
(Celia Cruz Biography)
B.

She was the embodiment of the salsa flavor.

1.
History the
a performance.

According to the Smithsonian Museum of American

idea of sabor (flavor) relates to the mastery of
(Her Life)
a.

the
performance.
2.

Many believed that Cruz clearly demonstrated

flavor, or mastery, of a salsa

She even coined the term azcar or sugar in her

songs.
a.
to her

This term was a way for her to add more flavor

songs.

b.
It was also a means of paying homage to her
Cuban
roots, generating associations of
pride within the Cuban
community. (Biography)

C.

She symbolized success for the Latino community.

1.

and

During the time Cruz was exiled, many other Cubans

Latino left their home countries as well.

2. These individuals felt connected with her success in

America.
a.
"For the almost two million Cubans who live
outside the
island, Cruz was an icon. She embodied
what Cubans
view as some of their best
qualities: strong family ties,
an impeccable
work ethic and a joy in living, even in the
face
of
calamity." (Ojito)
D.
great

She brought national attention to salsa music by winning a

number of awards.

(Link: And finally, we see how Cruz left her mark on music history.)
III.
Despite her aging, Cruz retained the same
ever.
A.

love for music as

She recorded music and toured well into her seventies.

1.
"My life is singing. I don't plan on retiring. I plan to
die on a
stageAs long as I am doing what I want
to do, I feel good.
Celia Cruz (Celia Cruz
Biography)
B. She died on July 16, 2003 from brain cancer.
C. Yet even with her death, Cruzs legacy lives on through her
music, her videos, and the countless of foundations and scholarships
in her name.
(Link: Weve learned a lot of Celia Cruz today, but as a refresher)
CONCLUSION:
I.
(Summary Statement) Cruzs early music career, her
influences on salsa
music, and her legacy demonstrate her title as
the queen of salsa.

II.
(Audience Response Statement) So in the future, when you
find yourself
salsa dancing the night away, stop and listen.
A.

You may catch yourself dancing to the queen herself.

III.
(WOW Statement) I want to leave you with the words of Seora
Cruz: There is no need to cry. Life is a carnival.
IV.

Have fun out there.

V.

Thank you.
Works Cited

Biography. Celia Cruz Foundation. 30 Apr. 2012. Web. 12 Oct.

2015.

Celia Cruz Biography. Encyclopedia of World Biography.

Advameg, Inc. Web. 12 Oct. 2015.

Her Life. Azcar! The Life and Music of Celia Cruz. Smithsonian
National Museum of American History. Web. 12 Oct. 2015.

Ojito, M. For Cuban Exiles, the End of an Era. The New York
Times. 19 July 2003. Web. 12 Oct. 2015.