The Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz, passed away at the age of 77 after losing her fight with cancer.
But her legacy endures, as seen by a brand-new drama series that was inspired by her remarkable life story.
Is Celia based on a true story?
Celia keeps a diary of Helena. The transformation of Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso from a reserved adolescent in pre-revolutionary Havana, Cuba, to a legendary personality who brought the entire globe to its feet with the force of her voice, unmistakable style, and vivacious presence.
Cruz overcame sexism and racism throughout a career that lasted more than 50 years and during which she recorded more than 70 albums.
She also found true love with Pedro Knight, a fellow member of the Sonora Matancera orchestra who later became her manager, with whom she settled in New Jersey after leaving her beloved country in 1960. Knight passed away four years after Cruz in 2007 at the age of 85.
