Some voices become part of a family’s memory. A Latin City reel, presented as interviews with Spanish Harlem residents from 1987, offers a glimpse of how audiences understood Celia Cruz’s cultural importance during her lifetime.

That connection extends well beyond one neighborhood. In Smithsonian magazine, Jacquelyne Germain explores the Cuban American singer’s lasting influence on music, style and the audiences who continue to celebrate her.

Cruz’s bold clothes, unmistakable voice and joyful stage presence made her instantly recognizable. The Smithsonian’s collections preserve part of that performance history through her dresses and distinctive shoes, while new generations of performers continue to draw inspiration from her.

The reel is a reminder to listen to the fans as well as the records. Their memories help explain how an artist becomes a shared cultural touchstone—and why the Queen of Salsa still feels so present.

Read the original article: “The Enduring Legacy of Celia Cruz, the ‘Queen of Salsa’,” Smithsonian magazine, by Jacquelyne Germain (2022). Video reference: Latin City’s original reel; its archival date and setting are attributed to the uploader.