Tribute to Celia Cruz in Central Park, New York

August 9, 2025

Central Park's SummerStage will be today, August 9th, the epicenter of an emotional tribute to Celia Cruz, just weeks before the centennial of her birth is celebrated. Cuban musicians Issac Delgado, Aymée Nuviola, Alain Pérez, Brenda Navarrete, and Melvis Santa will star in an evening that promises to be as vibrant as it is symbolic, taking place at Rumsey Playfield, the last stage where La Guarachera de Cuba performed in New York.

"This year, as we celebrate Celia Cruz's centennial, we honor not only the Queen of Salsa, but a woman whose music and spirit continue to inspire generations," said Omer Pardillo Cid, former manager of the artist and principal guardian of her legacy. "It is especially meaningful to return to SummerStage… everything feels like closing a circle," he added.

The event, with free admission, will open its doors at 6:00 p.m. with a salsa class led by Adriel Flete and Jordyn Lurie (Talía Productions). The show will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will bring together an impressive lineup:

-Issac Delgado, a salsa reference and co-founder of NG La Banda, pioneer of Cuban timba.

-Aymée Nuviola, "The Singer of the World," Grammy and Latin Grammy Award winner, who portrayed Celia Cruz in the telenovela Celia.

-Brenda Navarrete, multi-instrumentalist and expert in Batá drums, member of the Interactivo collective and the female group Obini Bata.

-Alain Pérez, bassist and singer who fuses jazz, flamenco, son, and salsa.

-Melvis Santa, singer-songwriter and percussionist who champions Afro-Cuban roots in jazz and popular music.

Celia Cruz was more than a distinctive voice: she broke barriers as an Afro-Latin woman in international music, becoming a symbol of joy, resistance, and authenticity. This concert seeks to connect new generations with her legacy through the music and spirit that defined her career.

The tribute coincides with other recognitions of the artist in New York, such as two streets in the Bronx that bear her name: a section of Fordham Road (Celia Cruz Boulevard) and the corner of Reservoir Avenue and West 195th Street, next to the high school that also honors her memory.