By DANIEL CHANG. Dchang@herald.com. Posted on Mon, Dec. 16,
2002 in The Miami Herald.
Salsa queen Celia Cruz was released from a New York City hospital over the
weekend after unspecified surgery on Dec. 5 that friends described as delicate.
Cruz is battling her illness with husband Pedro Knight, who reportedly had
surgery for colon cancer in September, by her side. Physicians have advised the
unflagging performer, who is in her late 70s, to rest during the next two to
three months, according to a statement issued Monday by Betty Del Rio, Cruz's
publicist.
Cruz's singing career spans six decades and virtually chronicles the history
of salsa -- from her start with the Afro-Cuban son band, La Sonora Matancera
(which led her out of Cuba in 1959) through her recordings with Tito Puente,
Johnny Pacheco and other bandleaders of the New York salsa scene of the 1960s
and 70s.
A sharp and energetic performer whose concerts are a whirlwind of dancing,
outrageous costumes and Cruz's operatic voice, the singer reportedly is
experiencing memory lapses. She uncharacteristically flubbed the lyrics of the
song she performed live during the Latin Grammys in September.
Still, Cruz plans to begin recording her next album in February with
producer/composer Sergio George, Del Rio's statement read.
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