What’s the secret to a love that lasts through fame, fortune, and decades of change? Celia Cruz and Pedro Knight knew the answer. Their love story was legendary.
As TeleRadioAmerica puts it, “Their personal and professional relationship was incredibly successful and long-lasting.”
So how did they do it? Love.
Who Were Celia Cruz and Pedro Knight?
Cruz will forever be known as “The Queen of Salsa.” Born October 21, 1925, in Havana, Cuba, Cruz recorded over 70 albums and became a symbol of Latin pride and resilience.
“The Cuban American singer left a music legacy that included numerous Grammy Awards, a National Medal of Arts and 23 gold albums,” NPR writes.
Knight, born in Cuba, in 1921, was a trumpeter who played for the renowned Afro-Cuban band, La Sonora Matancera, known for its dance music rooted in traditional African styles.
How They Met: An Enduring Love Blossoms
In 1950, Cruz was invited to join La Sonora Matancera, led by Rogelio Martínez. Knight, the band’s trumpeter, was already part of the band. Their paths crossed, and a friendship blossomed for years, according to Knight. However, Cruz initially resisted his romantic advances.
“She said musicians had too many women and she didn’t want to suffer. And, well, it was true. I had a lot of women. But I told her that if she would have me, she could leave that problem to me,” Knight once said in an interview, according to The Mercury News. “I stopped seeing all the women. I forgot about every single one. Because Celia was the most special woman in the world.”
An Enduring Love That Defied Distance and Politics
In 1960, as Fidel Castro came to power, La Sonora Matancera left Cuba for Mexico City. And Knight and Cruz found themselves in a new chapter of their lives.
“In the tumultuous 1960s, Celia Cruz and her devoted husband, Pedro Knight, embarked on a life-altering journey as they made the bold and life-defining decision to relocate to the United States permanently,” TotalHIstory explains.
When the band relocated to Los Angeles, Knight abandoned his own music career to become Celia’s manager. “She won her stardom. She’s worked very hard,” Knight said in a televised interview. “I helped a little. But nature gave her the gift.”
On July 14, 1962, they were married. From that moment on, they were inseparable.
“She affectionately called Mr. Knight Cabecita de Algodón (Cotton Head) because of his white mane and often sang about their love,” the New York Times writes.
What Made Them Special?
Knight dedicated himself to Celia’s success. He managed her career, handled logistics, and ensured her well-being. Their love for music bound them together.
Cruz once said, “Pedro is 50% of my career.”
Knight, however, disagreed with Cruz’s statement. “I don’t think I’m 50 percent of her career. Her career is hers,” he said in an interview, by his wife’s side.
Despite challenges, including political upheavals and cultural shifts, their love remained steadfast.
“I didn’t know how to cook. He taught me how to cook,” Cruz joked in an Spanish-language television interview by her husband’s side, who was all smiles.
A Lifetime of Harmony
Cruz and Knight lived in the U.S. for many years, until Celia’s passing in 2003.
“He chose a plot in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, where, on Myosotis Avenue, a granite mausoleum was built with four windows so fans could peer in and pay their respects to their beloved Guarachera de Cuba, whose nickname came from the guaracha songs that made her famous,” the New York Times explains. “The mausoleum’s neighbors were gravestones and larger monuments built in tribute to famous New Yorkers of all stripes, including seven former mayors, and musical giants like Duke Ellington and Miles Davis.”
Knight died in California on Feb. 3, 2007, at age 85. He was entombed next to his wife on Feb. 13. “His burial, on the day before Valentine’s Day, was the final chapter of a love story that had taken the couple from Fidel Castro’s Cuba to the heights of fame during a life in exile in the United States,” the New York Times writes.
