Celia Cruz, also known as the “Queen of Salsa,” made history on Aug. 7 as the first Afro-Latina to be featured in the U.S. Quarter. The Cuban-American singer’s legacy lives on as one of the most influential artists in the Hispanic community. 

Celia Cruz was born in 1925 in Havana, Cuba. She began pursuing a singing career after winning a talent show in the 1940s. In 1950, Cruz got her big break by joining a popular Cuban orchestra called “La Sonora Matancera,” where she was their first Black lead singer. 

When Fidel Castro’s communist regime took over Cuba in 1959, La Sonora Matancera orchestra was on tour in Mexico. During this time, they decided to leave Cuba and move to the U.S. in 1960, becoming citizens in 1961. Outraged by her departure, Castro banned Cruz from returning to Cuba, even to bury her mother. 

However, in 1990, Cruz returned to the island and performed at the U.S. naval base in Guantánamo Bay. The country of Cuba was separated by a wired fence where she collected dirt from the other side so that she always had a piece of home. She would later be buried with it. 

One of the most admirable things about Cruz was her love for Cuba and her fight for freedom against Castro’s regime. Castro’s government does not tolerate any form of criticism, leading to Cruz’s music being banned from 1960-2012. 

Cruz migrated to New York City in 1962 and married a member of the orchestra, Pedro Knight. 

She began her solo career in 1965 collaborating with Tito Puente’s orchestra. Their collaboration helped Cruz gain a large fan following in Latin music in the U.S., becoming an international sensation. 

Cruz’s love for her Afro-Latina culture heavily influenced her style of music. Some of Cruz’s greatest hit songs include “La Vida es un Carnaval” and “La Negra Tiene Tumbao.” She incorporated Afro-Cuban rhythms, reinvented the world of salsa music making the genre soar in popularity, especially among other Latin American immigrants. 

The famous catchphrase, “¡Azúcar!” comes from a story that Cruz loved to relay to her fans. 

Cruz was at a restaurant in Miami when the waiter asked if she would like sugar with her coffee. “Chico, you’re Cuban, how can you even ask me that? Con AZUCAR!” she said. 

Cruz won three Grammy awards and four Latin Grammy awards throughout her career. In addition, she also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1987 and Calle Ocho Walk of Fame in Miami in 1991. 

Cruz was diagnosed with breast cancer after wrapping up a world tour in 2002. Following the treatment came a brain tumor and she underwent surgery in December that same year. Due to complications from her surgery, Cruz died on July 16, 2003. 

Celia Cruz touched the hearts of many fans around the world, especially within the Hispanic and Latino communities. Even after her death, her life is celebrated all over the world. 

In August of 2024, the U.S. Mint distributed the Celia Cruz quarters, sealing her legacy. The coin features “a dynamic depiction of Celia Cruz flashing her dazzling smile while performing in a rumba-style dress. Her signature catchphrase “¡AZÚCAR!” is inscribed on the right. 

The Celia Cruz quarter is a part of the American Women Quarters™ Program (AWQP). The program, which runs from 2022-2025, recognizes the achievements of five honorable American women every year 

Phebe Hemphill is the medallic artist who created the design. “Celia Cruz’s influence reached well beyond her music. She was proud of and celebrated her Cuban culture, which empowered Afro-Latino Americans in embracing their heritage, making her an important and enduring cultural icon,” she said. 

In a press release, Cruz’s last artistic representative, Omer Pardillo-Cid, shared some words about the new coin, “But to have been honored by the U.S. Mint in this way is something that would have surprised her greatly since she was a simple and humble woman.” 

Celia Cruz’s legacy continues to inspire generations. Her musical and cultural impact remains strong as the first Afro-Latina featured in the U.S. quarter. This tribute helps solidify her place in history, securing her influence for years to come.