Celeste Mendoza: The Queen of Guaguanco

Celeste Mendoza was born on April 6, 1930 in the popular neighborhood known as Los Hoyos, home to drums, conga, mulatas and the Chinese bugle. The atmosphere around her contributed to the education of a great star in Cuba’s musical scene. Music was definitely running in Celeste’s blood.

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As an original Santiago-born woman, she was a mulata with a perfect body, out loud laugh, charismatic, devoted follower of Yemayá – the virgin of Regla – in Yoruba religion, an unrivalled passionate and rumba-dancing woman.   

At the age of 11 her family moved to Havana and she immediately joined the cabaret world. Tropicana hosted her performances during the 1950s. She was synthesis of rumba, singing and dancing.

In 1952, she reached her artistic maturity and decided to work on her solo career. Celeste made her debut at “Alegrías de Hatuey” show broadcasted by Radio Progreso.
The television also echoed the musical phenomenon named Celeste Mendoza, by means of CMQ’s “Esta noche”. She later recorded her first album that included hits “Besos brujos" and "Que me castigue Dios".

Although she was into other genres, she loved guaguancó and songs “Papá Oggún” and “El poder mayor”, by Ignacio Piñeiro, and Elia Julia Díaz’s “En la cumbre”.

Celeste shared stage with such national and international figures as Mrs. Omara Portuondo, Barbaro del Ritmo Benny Moré, Aragón Orchestra, unforgettable Bolá de Nieve, French singer Edith Piaf and many other outstanding artists.

Her music was applauded in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Panama, United States, Frances, Poland, former Soviet Union, Japan and Spain.

In the early 1990 decade, Celeste Mendoza was a past star. She had had successful moments like the Cubadisco award she was given in 1998 for “El reino de la rumba”, along with Los Papines, or a couple of tours in England and Japan.

On her first performance in Spain, Celeste said in July 1993 “I was so warmly welcomed that I felt like I was in Cuba, with my people. It was wonderful.”

After seeing her performing in a cabaret, Rita Montaner described the musical talent of this Santiago-born woman and expressed: “I finally see a star! She’s the Queen of Guaguancó. Celeste Mendoza is an original Cuban artist, who spontaneously shows, in vocal and choreographic terms, our popular and folkloric music".

Celeste Mendoza passed away in November 1998. She was found alone in her apartment at the 18th floor of a building located in Línea and F. Although she is not physically among us, Celeste lives in every guaguancó and will always be the Queen.