Juana Bacallao (26 May 1925 – 24 February 2024), also known as Juana la cubana and Juana La Caliente, was a Cuban singer and musician.[1][2][3][4] She started her professional singing career under the aegis of Obdulio Morales, who composed the famous guaracha "Juana Bacallao", which became her stage name.
Juana Bacallao | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Neris Amelia Martínez Salazar |
| Also known as | Juana la cubana |
| Born | 26 May 1925 Havana, Cuba |
| Died | 24 February 2024 (aged 98) Havana, Cuba |
| Genres | Guaracha, son cubano |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Voice, piano, conga |
Early life
editBacallao was born Neris Amelia Martínez Salazar in the working-class neighborhood of Cayo Hueso in Havana.[5] Orphaned at age 6, she was sent to a Catholic boarding school and subsequently worked as a house cleaner until she was discovered by Obodulio Morales, allegedly while she sang as she cleaned a house.[2]
Career
editThroughout her career she has toured around the world and performed with such artists as Nat King Cole, Bola de Nieve, Chano Pozo, Beny Moré, Rita Montaner, Los Zafiros and Celeste Mendoza.[2][3][6]
In 2011 Bacallao toured the United States and Puerto Rico, and appeared in several Spanish-language television stations.[5]
Bacallao appeared in the September 2015 Cuba episode of the CNN series Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown.[7][8]
Death
editBacallao died on 24 February 2024, at the age of 98.[9]
Awards
editIn 2020 Bacallao was awarded the Cuban Premio Nacional del Humor (National Humor Prize).[10]
References
edit- ^ "Havana Cultura". Havana Club (in French). Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ a b c "Ageless Cuban diva Juana Bacallao still saucy at 85". The Denver Post. Associated Press. 5 June 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ a b los 50, Tradicionales de (25 May 2016). "Juana Bacallao, The Black Goddess Made The Earth Shake". Tradicionales de los 50. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Juana Bacallao sigue actuando pasados los 90 años". Cubadebate (in Spanish). 7 June 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Juana Bacallao llegó a Miami - Diario Dominicano". diariodominicano.com. Retrieved 8 May 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ admin (27 April 2016). "– JUANA BACALLAO, "Juana La Cubana", actress, comedian. (VIDEO). *** JUANA BACALLAO, "Juana La Cubana", Actriz, Comediante. VIDEO. | The History, Culture and Legacy of the People of Cuba". Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ "Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown: Cuba; Aired September 27, 2015". CNN. 27 September 2015.
- ^ Eater
- ^ "La carismática artista cubana Juana Bacallao muere a los 98 años en La Habana". Qué Pasa. 24 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- ^ DDC (7 December 2020). "Juana Bacallao y Arístides Hernández comparten el Premio Nacional del Humor 2020 | DIARIO DE CUBA". diariodecuba.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 January 2021.
External links
edit- Juana Bacallao at IMDb
- Juana Bacallao discography at Discogs
- Juana Bacallao Interviewed on the Alexis Valdez TV show
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