Smithsonian Considers Celia Cruz For Special Portrait

The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is having a special public vote to determine which of five historical figures should be the subject of a new special historical portrait. One of the nominees is Celia Cruz. The other nominees are Audie Murphy, Alice Paul, Samuel Morse and Frederick Douglass.

El Museo Nacional Smithsonian de Historia Americana está haciendo una votación especial del público para determinar cuál de cinco figuras históricas deberiá ser objeto de un nuevo retrato histórico especial. Uno de los nominados es Celia Cruz. Los otros nominados son Audie Murphy, Alice Paul, Samuel Morse y Frederick Douglass.

Photo from the Smithsonian's website.

Celia left an enormous body of work both in Cuba and later in the United States, and her style influenced generations of female Salsa vocalists.

Voting is open until May 26 , and you can vote on your choice for this portrait on the National Museum of American History's web page by using this link: Frame an Iconic American

Celia dejó un enorme cuerpo de obras, tanto en Cuba y más tarde en los Estados Unidos, y su estilo influyó en generaciones de cantantes femeninas de la Salsa. La votación está abierta hasta el 26 de Mayo, y usted puede votar en su elección para este retrato en la página de web del Museo Nacional de Historia Americana mediante el uso de este enlace: Frame an Iconic American

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Sunday, 22 April 2012, 11:26 AM

According to a few sources including an announcement from ACN (Agencia Cubana de Noticias), the nominees for the Cubadisco 2012 awards are out and include some Timba groups worth mentioning. For the Música Popular Bailable Actual (Current Popular Dance Music) category, the nominees include Acabaito de Nacer by David Calzado y Su Charanga Habanera, La Maquinaria by Juan Formell y Los Van Van, Todo Es Posible by Wil Campa y su Orquesta, Siempre Pupy by Pupy y Los Que Son Son, Al Fin by Mónika Mesa and La Timba Pa' To' El Mundo by Miami's own Timbalive.
The awards program will take place Saturday, May 19 at the Teatro Karl Marx in Havana. Some other nominees of interest include 30 Años de Son 14 (by Son 14) and Mis 22 Años (by NG La Banda) in the Premio Especial (Special Award) category, and a special nomination (Nominación Especial) for Chucho's Steps by Chucho Valdés.
In the Música De Archivo category (of special interest to collectors), two of the five nominees include Ritmo Oriental's Colección Agrupaciones Bailables Orquesta Ritmo Oriental and a collection called Origenes. Eduardo Ramos con el Grupo Experimentación Sonora (del ICAIC).
A number of interesting Jazz and Folkloric nominees also turn up on the list. For a complete listing, see
Cubadisco 2012 Nominees
Congratulations to all of the nominees but especially to Timbalive for this tangible reminder that world-class Timba truly is a global phenomenon now including in the United States.

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Friday, 13 April 2012, 11:38 PM

This film is currently making the rounds of festivals in several cities including Chicago and New York. Is it worth seeing? Read our review here...

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Sunday, 08 April 2012, 06:36 AM

There are some very exciting and innovative new Jazz recording projects about to hit the streets including a phenomenal project by Manuel Valera's New Cuban Express, and we'll be saying more about those in the near future. But right here, right now, Yosvany Terry is releasing one of them, Today's Opinion, with special live sets on Tuesday April 10 and Wednesday, April 11 at the Jazz Standard in NYC. The CD absolutely knocked our socks off - you can read the review here.