Bill > S0972

Introduced Session

An act relating to Celia Cruz Day; creating s. 683.27, F.S.; designating October 21 of each year as “Celia Cruz Day” in Florida; providing an effective date. WHEREAS, Celia Cruz, internationally known as the “Queen of Salsa,” was born on October 21, 1925, in Cuba, where West African and European traditions merged to create a rich musical climate that allowed Celia Cruz to become a musical talent with a fluid, diverse repertoire, and WHEREAS, in 1950, Celia Cruz joined the orchestra La Sonora Matancera and, in her 15 years with La Sonora Matancera, recorded 188 songs, one of which, “Burundanga,” won Celia her first gold record, and WHEREAS, Celia Cruz was bestowed many national and state honors, including the National Medal of Arts in 1994; the Grammy Award in 1990, 2003, and 2004; the Latin Grammy Award in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2004; the Aplauso 92 Award for Best Latin Female Vocalist in 1989, 1991, and 1992; the Lo Nuestro Excellence Award in 1990; the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame Honor in 1994; the Andalusia Award for Universal Artist in 1996; the Telemundo Network Artist of the Millennium Award in 1999; and the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously, in 2016, and WHEREAS, Celia Cruz received a star on the “Hollywood Walk of Fame” in Hollywood and the “Calle Ocho Walk of Fame” in Miami, and she was also awarded honorary doctoral degrees from the Florida International University and the University of Miami, and WHEREAS, most recently, a collectible Barbie doll that commemorates Celia Cruz was released, and WHEREAS, Celia Cruz’s image appeared on the Forever Latin Music Legends stamps issued by the United States Postal Service in 2011, and she is the first Afro-Latina to be featured on a United States currency, the 2024 quarter, NOW, THEREFORE,

Ana Maria Rodriguez (R)*, 

Died in Governmental Oversight and Accountability (on 06/16/2025)

Official Document