Celia Cruz among the 20 greatest singers of all time published by Rolling Stones magazine

January 4, 2023

Cuban singer Celia Cruz is on the list of the 20 greatest singers of all time, according to a list published by Rolling Stones magazine with 200 singers from around the world.

"You can hear much of Celia Cruz's life story in her voice: her rich and inimitable tone captured the warmth and vitality of Havana, often evoking the call of street vendors and the power of Afro-Cuban santería songs from her childhood," the magazine said.

"Although she rose to fame in Cuba, she became a star in New York City, showcasing her infinite charisma and her powerful vocal force alongside the greatest salsa numbers in history."

"No matter who she performed with, Cruz always shone radiantly, her magic tied to her ability to make people feel: she could capture nostalgia and longing, or she could let out a cry of '¡Azúcar!' and embody the exuberance for life that continues to make her one of the most transcendent singers of all time," Rolling Stones added.

Cuban musicologist Rosa Marquetti, a scholar of Cruz's life, added that "our Celia is at number 18, after Elvis Presley (#17) and before Frank Sinatra (#19). And ahead of transcendent figures of North American culture. Greatness! So many looks cannot be wrong!"

"This new list was compiled by our staff and key collaborators, and spans 100 years of pop music as an ongoing global conversation, where the iconic Indian playback singer Lata Mangeshkar lands between Amy Winehouse and Johnny Cash, and the queen of salsa Celia Cruz is up there in the rankings with Prince and Marvin Gaye," the magazine noted.

According to Rolling Stones, the 20 greatest artists of all time are:

Aretha Franklin
Whitney Houston
Sam Cooke
Billie Holiday
Mariah Carey
Ray Charles
Stevie Wonder
Beyoncé
Otis Redding
Al Green
Little Richard
John Lennon
Patsy Cline
Freddie Mercury
Bob Dylan
Prince
Elvis Presley
Celia Cruz
Frank Sinatra
Marvin Gaye