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'''Celina González''' (born 1928) is a [[Cubans|Cuban]] [[singer]] and songwriter of [[musica campesina]], traditional music of the Cuban countryside. She is best known for writing "[[Santa Bárbara (song)|Santa Bárbara]]", one of [[Celia Cruz]]'s signature songs.
{{short description|Cuban singer}}
[[File:Celina gonzalez2.jpg|thumb|Celina González Zamora]]
'''Celina González Zamora''' (16&nbsp;March 1929&nbsp;– 4&nbsp;February 2015) was a [[Cubans|Cuban]] singer-songwriter, who specialized in "música campesina", traditional music of the Cuban countryside. She is best known for co-authoring ''A Santa Bárbara'' with her partner Reutilio Domínguez.<ref>not the traditional song ''[[Santa Bárbara bendita]]''.</ref> Her recording of it was a hit, as was [[Celia Cruz]]'s version. González and Domínguez wrote "Yo soy el punto cubano": the recording was a hit in many countries throughout the world.{{cn|date=February 2015}}


Known as the Cuban Queen of Country Music, Celina Gonzalez was born in Jovellanos, Matanzas, Cuba on [[16 March]] [[1929]]. She met Reutilio Dominguez at the age of sixteen in Santiago de Cuba. He became her singing partner and husband resulting in a collaboration that lasted until Reutilio's death in Guantanamo in 1971. In 1948 they began working with the famous [[Nico Saquito]] and gained increasing popularity on radio, film and television. They performed in New York with two of the greatest Cuban artists of all time: Beny More and Barbarito Diez. In 1964 the duo stopped performing together and Celina continued as a soloist singing traditional guajira music.
González was born in [[Jovellanos]], [[Matanzas]]. At age 16, she met Reutilio Domínguez in [[Santiago de Cuba]]. He became her singing partner and husband, resulting in a collaboration that lasted until his death in [[Guantanamo]] in 1971. In 1948 they began working with the famous guitarist and singer [[Ñico Saquito]] and gained increasing popularity on radio, film and television. They performed in New York with [[Beny Moré]] and Barbarito Diez. In 1964 the duo stopped performing together and González continued as a soloist. In later years she sang with her son Lázaro, and was usually accompanied by the conjunto ''Campo Alegre''. {{cn|date=February 2015}}


Initially, her music was mainly that of the European countryside guajiro (peasant), with lyrics based on the poetics of [[décima]]. The musical form was often that of the [[punto cubano]].<ref>Giro, Radamés 2007. ''Diccionario enciclopédico de la música en Cuba''. La Habana. vol 3, p. 273 'Punto'.</ref><ref>Linares, María Teresa 1999. ''El punto cubano''. Santiago de Cuba.</ref> The relationship with Ñico Saquito taught her a great deal about the [[Son Cubano|son]] and the [[guaracha]], and her later work made frequent use of those forms.
The musical form she prefers is the decima. Most of her songs are written in this style and although, in the past the rhythms in her music were more guaguanco than pure Afro, they are now mostly guaracha. She sings about 'guajiros' and 'puntos' (country people) because she believes that these sectors of society are not fully appreciated. In 1980 she won Egrem's coveted Disco de Plata award for the record entitled 'Celina'. This was the beginning of many more awards to come in the 80's. 'Santa Bárbara' later became one of her biggest hits and is featured on the album of the same name on Egrem available via [[Tumi Music]].


In 1984 she was awarded the Vanguardia Nacional for her artistic work and won a trip to the Soviet Union and Bulgaria with her son. In 1984 she won the award for Best Singer at the 27th International Music Festival in Cali, Colombia and after a successful tour in Europe in 1988 she recorded a session for the BBC. Her biggest award came just two years ago when she received the Golden Picasso medal by UNESCO. Then, the same year, together with her son, Reutilio, she released the highly acclaimed 'La Rica Cosecha' on Tumi Music and performed a sell out concert at the Barbican Hall in London.
In 1980 she won [[Egrem]]'s ''Disco de Plata'' award for the album ''Celina''. This was the first of many awards. In 1984 she was awarded the ''Vanguardia Nacional'' for her artistic work and won a trip to the Soviet Union and Bulgaria with her son. In 1984 she won the award for Best Singer at the 27th International Music Festival in [[Cali, Colombia]], and after a successful tour in Europe in 1988 she recorded a session for the [[BBC]]. {{cn|date=February 2015}}


Albums ''La rica cosecha'' and ''Desde La Habana te traigo'' were well received, and she was nominated, unsuccessfully, for a [[Grammy]] in 2001 in the 'Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album' category, for her CD ''Cincuenta años... como una reina''. The album won instead the ''Cubadisco'' award for the same year.<ref>Giro, Radamés 2007. ''Diccionario enciclopédico de la música en Cuba''. La Habana. vol 2, p164.</ref> She died on 4 February 2015, aged 85<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cantor-Navas|first1=Judy|title=Cuban Country Queen Celina Gonzalez Dead at 85|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin-notas/6458543/celina-gonzalez-dead-85-cuban-country-queen|website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]|accessdate=7 February 2015|date=5 February 2015}}</ref> in her homeland Cuba.<ref name=journey>{{cite web|title=A musical journey in honor of Celina González|url=http://www.elheraldo.co/tendencias/un-recorrido-musical-en-honor-de-celina-gonzalez-182970|website=ElHeraldo.Co|accessdate=1 October 2015|language=Spanish|date=4 February 2015}}</ref>
'Yo soy el Punto Cubano', from the album 'La Rica Cosecha' was a hit in many countries in Europe and also in Japan as well as being a firm favourite with the WMCE (World Music Charts Europe). Her new album 'Desde La Habana Te Traigo' offers an exciting new canvas for her to create her own masterpiece as Orquesta America, the legendary charanga band, embrace her voice with impressive results.

==Discography==
;Albums
* ''La Rica Cosecha''
* ''Desde la Habana te Traigo''
* ''Cincuenta Años... Como una Reina''

;Contributing artist
* ''[[The Rough Guide to the Music of Cuba (1998 album)|The Rough Guide to the Music of Cuba]]'' (1998, [[World Music Network]])

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Gonzalez, Celina}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gonzalez, Celina}}
[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:2015 deaths]]
[[Category:Cuban songwriters]]
[[Category:Cuban songwriters]]
[[Category:Picasso Medalists]]
[[Category:Cuban women singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Cuban female singers]]
[[Category:Place of death missing]]
[[Category:Cuban musicians]]
[[Category:Women in Latin music]]
[[Category:20th-century Cuban women singers]]

[[es:Celina & Reutilio]]

Latest revision as of 12:36, 25 August 2024

Celina González Zamora

Celina González Zamora (16 March 1929 – 4 February 2015) was a Cuban singer-songwriter, who specialized in "música campesina", traditional music of the Cuban countryside. She is best known for co-authoring A Santa Bárbara with her partner Reutilio Domínguez.[1] Her recording of it was a hit, as was Celia Cruz's version. González and Domínguez wrote "Yo soy el punto cubano": the recording was a hit in many countries throughout the world.[citation needed]

González was born in Jovellanos, Matanzas. At age 16, she met Reutilio Domínguez in Santiago de Cuba. He became her singing partner and husband, resulting in a collaboration that lasted until his death in Guantanamo in 1971. In 1948 they began working with the famous guitarist and singer Ñico Saquito and gained increasing popularity on radio, film and television. They performed in New York with Beny Moré and Barbarito Diez. In 1964 the duo stopped performing together and González continued as a soloist. In later years she sang with her son Lázaro, and was usually accompanied by the conjunto Campo Alegre. [citation needed]

Initially, her music was mainly that of the European countryside guajiro (peasant), with lyrics based on the poetics of décima. The musical form was often that of the punto cubano.[2][3] The relationship with Ñico Saquito taught her a great deal about the son and the guaracha, and her later work made frequent use of those forms.

In 1980 she won Egrem's Disco de Plata award for the album Celina. This was the first of many awards. In 1984 she was awarded the Vanguardia Nacional for her artistic work and won a trip to the Soviet Union and Bulgaria with her son. In 1984 she won the award for Best Singer at the 27th International Music Festival in Cali, Colombia, and after a successful tour in Europe in 1988 she recorded a session for the BBC. [citation needed]

Albums La rica cosecha and Desde La Habana te traigo were well received, and she was nominated, unsuccessfully, for a Grammy in 2001 in the 'Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album' category, for her CD Cincuenta años... como una reina. The album won instead the Cubadisco award for the same year.[4] She died on 4 February 2015, aged 85[5] in her homeland Cuba.[6]

Discography

[edit]
Albums
  • La Rica Cosecha
  • Desde la Habana te Traigo
  • Cincuenta Años... Como una Reina
Contributing artist

References

[edit]
  1. ^ not the traditional song Santa Bárbara bendita.
  2. ^ Giro, Radamés 2007. Diccionario enciclopédico de la música en Cuba. La Habana. vol 3, p. 273 'Punto'.
  3. ^ Linares, María Teresa 1999. El punto cubano. Santiago de Cuba.
  4. ^ Giro, Radamés 2007. Diccionario enciclopédico de la música en Cuba. La Habana. vol 2, p164.
  5. ^ Cantor-Navas, Judy (5 February 2015). "Cuban Country Queen Celina Gonzalez Dead at 85". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  6. ^ "A musical journey in honor of Celina González". ElHeraldo.Co (in Spanish). 4 February 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
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