“First I am a musician, and I’m Cuban,” says international artist Lucrecia, who brings her traditional Cuban rhythms together with eclectic styles of music as diverse as the colors of her hair.
“They are the colors of diversity,” said Lucrecia last week. “The most important thing is that we all have a good time.”
Lucrecia arrived in Union City last week for the dedication of a star and mural to late singer Celia Cruz at the 31st Street Park.
“I have come many times for many reasons,” said Lucrecia about her visit to the States. “I’ve come to New York for the star dedication of Tito Puente, and to Miami for the star dedication of Celia Cruz.”
Musical styling
Lucrecia talked about her career last week. Some of her music has included a mix of traditional Cuban music with the modern beats of today.
“I’ve done traditional music, salsa, boleros,” said Lucrecia, who completed her ninth album in 2002 entitled Agua (water). “Cuban music with an electronic base is what makes up a majority of my songs on this latest album.”
After phenomenal success in Spain and throughout Europe, Lucrecia is hoping for similar success in the American market as she plans out the next step of her musical career.
Lucrecia
Born in El Vedado and raised in Quanabacos towns of Cuba, Lucrecia seemed to have been born with music in her heart. At the young age of 6 she began her musical studies with a concentration in piano at El Instituto Superior de Arte de Cuba (The Superior Institute of Art in Cuba). In order to complete a well-rounded musical structure, she also took voice classes.
As a result, she received many awards as a vocalist in different competitions in Cuba including the Joseito Fernandez Award in 1987, acclaim at the Benny More Festival in 1988, and an award in el Concurso Jovenes Compositores y Instrumentistas (the Young Composers and Instrumentalists Competition) in 1989. She was also the lead vocalist and keyboard player for the famous Cuban female orchestra “Anacaona” from 1990 to1992. It was with “Anacaona,” that Lucrecia participated in tours around the world, which brought her to Spain where she stayed and now resides in Barcelona.
In 1993, she finally gained wide recognition in Cuba as an artist having her songs play in the Hit Parade of radio and TV. That same year she participated in the Havana International Festival of Boleros, where she was one of the distinguished guests, and was a finalist in a competition to be the singer representing Cuba in the OTI Festival.
Her music
In 1994 she released her first album in Spain entitled “Me debes un Beso” (You owe me a kiss), for which she was the producer and musical director. Her second release in 1996 was entitled “Prohibido” (Forbidden), where she brought the song “La Noche de la Iguana” (the Night of the Iguana) by Juan Pablo Silvestre. The song also served as the lead single of the Sonora band in the movie “Balseros.” Lucrecia’s third album “Mis Boleros” (My Boleros) came out later that same year.
In 1997 she released “Pronosticos” and in 1999 “Cubaname,” for which she once again served as producer and musical director. Also in 1999, Lucrecia made her debut as an actress in the movie “Ataque Verbal” (Verbal Attack) directed by Miguel Albadalejo. In 2001, Lucrecia released a single entitled “Amparame,” which has been rerecorded for her latest album “Agua.”
In addition to her musical and theatrical credits she has also written a children’s book called Besitos de Chocolate (Chocolate Kisses), and has appeared on a children’s program in Spain.
Throughout the last few years she had also met and collaborated with some of the best in the industry including artists that have personally influenced her like Celia Cruz.
Lucrecia and Celia
“I had many encounters with her until 2001, when we really started our friendship,” said Lucrecia. “I was pregnant at the time, and she even called me when I was ready to give birth.”
Lucrecia remembers about six months later Celia went to Barcelona to meet her son.
“My son reached out for her like he knew her all his life,” said Lucrecia.
Lucrecia will always remember Celia Cruz for her strength and dedication at all hours, and the beauty of her music.
“She was an excellent person, with her husband an excellent partner, and I’ll always remember her joy,” said Lucrecia, who was in Barcelona when she heard the sad news of Celia’s death.
“My friend from New Jersey called me, and it was a time of mixed emotions,” said Lucrecia, who immediately went to her son’s nursery to tell him the sad news and she remembers him somehow understanding.
“I left so illuminated, and I became inspired to compose a song,” said Lucrecia. “I’ve been speaking to my son since he was zero, and I told him Mami has a great pain because Celia died.”
Unfortunately she couldn’t immediately leave to be at Celia’s side because she had shows scheduled, but a soon as it was over she left for the burial in New York.
The night of her concert, a wake was being held for Celia in Miami, and during the show fans lifted up signs that read “Agua con Azucar,” linking the two artists with their famous catch phrases.
“I finally met a person I really admired, and that is marvelous,” said Lucrecia. “I was always fascinated by her strength, she was a refined woman, and family oriented. I had to say goodbye to her.”
At the cemetery, Lucrecia sang a song dedicated to Celia entitled “Noche con un Angel” (Night with an Angel).
“I composed a song for Celia called “Agua con Azucar y Ron (Water with Sugar and Rum),” said Lucrecia.
While in New York and New Jersey she went on interviews for the local radio stations as well as TV stations such as Telemundo, where she debuted one of her songs from her latest album. She was also named Artist of the Year for the Cuban Day Parade of Hudson County, which is partly sponsored by the Latin American Kiwanis of Mid-Hudson.
“My presence here is all thanks to the Kiwanis, and I’m very grateful,” said Lucrecia.
She was unable to make last Sunday’s parade die to her previous engagement to appear in the Cuban Parade of Miami in Florida.
Future
With future plans to release her 10th album in America and participation in a musical honoring Celia Cruz, for right now, Lucrecia is still riding the success of Agua.
“This water is life, everything is in flow like the water,” said Lucrecia. “Water is strength and is the union of all cultures, and of my voice and productions.”
Lucreia has also just signed on with Nestor A. Rodriguez, her manager in Miami, whom she met last December.
“I met him at an homage ceremony to Celia, and he decided he wants the people in the United States to know who I am,” said Lucrecia. “This is what I wanted, someone you can confide in and who knows who you are as an artist.”
Lucrecia usually also travels around with her husband of nine years Jan, who is her personal manager and handles her image and promotion, and their 2-year-old son Jan Jr.
“We work together and share this life that is constantly moving,” said Lucrecia.
With no set plans as to the type of music she will perform for her next album, she simply states, “I am a musician and I have many ideas going on in this head and in this body that can not be contained.”
Often compared to Celia Cruz, people say that she may be the next Celia.
“No! The Goddess does not have a successor,” said Lucrecia. “She is the Goddess of the world. We may have things in common like love for our community, but I respect her and she will always be Celia Cruz for the centuries to come.”