Juana Bacallao
Juana Bacallao | |
---|---|
Birth name | Neris Amelia Martínez Salazar |
Also known as | Juana la Cubana |
Born | Havana, Cuba | May 26, 1925
Genres | Guaracha, son cubano |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instruments | Voice, piano, conga |
Associated acts | Obdulio Morales, Nat King Cole, Rita Montaner, Celeste Mendoza |
Juana Bacallao (born May 26, 1925), also known as Juana la Cubana and Juana La Caliente, is a Cuban singer and musician.[1][2][3][4][5] She started her professional singing career under the aegis of Obdulio Morales, who composed the famous guaracha "Juana Bacallao", which became her stage name.
Early life[]
Bacallao was born Neris Amelia Martínez Salazar in the working class neighborhood of Cayo Hueso in Havana.[6] 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.[3]
Career[]
Throughout 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, and Celeste Mendoza.[3][4][7]
In 2011 Bacallao toured the United States and Puerto Rico, and appeared in several Spanish-language television stations.[6]
She appeared in the September 2015 Cuba episode of the CNN series Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown.[8][9]
Awards[]
In 2020 Bacallao was awarded the Cuban Premio Nacional del Humor (National Humor Prize).[10]
References[]
- ^ "Havana Cultura". Havana Club (in French). Retrieved 2020-05-08.
- ^ "Juana Bacallao - EcuRed". www.ecured.cu (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-05-08.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Ageless Cuban diva Juana Bacallao still saucy at 85". The Denver Post. Associated Press. 2010-06-05. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
- ^ Jump up to: a b los 50, Tradicionales de (2016-05-25). "Juana Bacallao, The Black Goddess Made The Earth Shake". Tradicionales de los 50. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
- ^ "Juana Bacallao sigue actuando pasados los 90 años". Cubadebate (in Spanish). 2010-06-07. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Juana Bacallao llegó a Miami - Diario Dominicano". diariodominicano.com. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
- ^ admin. "– 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 2020-05-08.
- ^ "Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown: Cuba; Aired September 27, 2015". CNN. September 27, 2015.
- ^ Eater
- ^ DDC (2020-12-07). "Juana Bacallao y Arístides Hernández comparten el Premio Nacional del Humor 2020 | DIARIO DE CUBA". diariodecuba.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-01-07.
External links[]
- Living people
- 1925 births
- Cuban singers
- People from Havana
- Guaracha singers
- Son cubano singers
- Cuban composers
- Cuban music history
- Cuban people of African descent
- Afro-Cuban culture
- Music biography stubs