The commemorative album “Celia Cruz En Vivo — 100 años de Azúcar,” which celebrates the life and musical legacy of the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz, won the Latin GRAMMY® for Best Package Design during the 25th Annual Awards ceremony on Thursday. “This album holds immeasurable value for me for many reasons. First, because it celebrates Celia Cruz, Cuba’s most iconic artist and one of the first I had the honor of working with. Additionally, it contains live recordings from concerts in Miami, a city close to my heart. I’ve always been passionate about design, whether graphic or advertising. This album’s packaging is unique, perfectly reflecting Celia’s vibrant style,” says Nelson Albareda, CEO of Loud And Live and executive producer of the album. “And finally, there’s the music, my greatest passion. As a Cuban-American, this music pays tribute to my roots, heritage, and essence. Celia was a once-in-a-lifetime artist who comes along every hundred years, and that’s precisely what we’re celebrating: 100 Years of Azúcar,” he adds. The production was awarded for its limited-edition Deluxe Collector’s Box Set, an artistic piece that captivated collectors, music lovers worldwide, and The Latin Recording Academy members, who chose this work as the winner. The cover of this special edition holds both sentimental and historical value as it features authentic sequin-embroidered fabric from one of Celia’s famous costumes. This award-winning Deluxe box set also includes a book containing one hundred photographs celebrating each year of the legendary artist’s life, along with a series of printed art plates. Nelson Albareda and Omer Pardillo-Cid, multiple GRAMMY® and Latin GRAMMY® winners, led the production and art direction of the package design, along with Kemelly Figueroa-Mouriz, Sebastián Aristizábal, and Albertico Rodríguez. “One of life’s greatest treasures was accompanying Celia for so many years. After her passing, I made it my mission to elevate the work she left us so it wouldn’t be forgotten with time. This project is another example of how Celia is immortal. Now, she’s accompanying me and will do so for eternity. Receiving this Latin GRAMMY® thanks to the efforts of the Loud And Live Studios team officially kicks off her Centennial celebration, which will be a resounding success for her legacy and future generations,” commented Omer Pardillo-Cid, Celia Cruz’s last manager and universal executor of her legacy. The June-released album, produced by Loud And Live Studios and distributed by InnerCat, marks the beginning of the commemoration of Celia Cruz’s 100th birth anniversary, which will be celebrated in 2025. “Celia Cruz En Vivo – 100 años de Azúcar” contains unreleased recordings of the singer from a concert in Miami, FL, in the mid-eighties. It was released digitally and on vinyl with special packaging, instantly becoming a global collector’s item. This award adds to Celia Cruz’s enduring legacy at the Latin GRAMMYs®, where she won four golden gramophones during her lifetime: Best Salsa Performance for “Celia Cruz and Friends: A Night of Salsa,” Best Traditional Tropical Album for “Siempre Viviré,” and Best Salsa Album twice for “La Negra Tiene Tumbao” and “Regalo Del Alma.” Last August, Cruz was selected and honored as one of five outstanding women celebrated in the U.S. Mint’s American Women Quarters Program, recognizing women’s achievements and positive contributions to this nation. The Queen of Salsa, who passed away in 2003, appears on the coin in relief, dressed in Cuban attire alongside her catchphrase “¡Azúcar!” Celia Cruz was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1925, and until she died in 2003, she took her music around the world, spreading her distinctive flavor and joy wherever she went. Her impact is immeasurable. In the two decades since her passing, the fame and affection for this iconic artist have grown and continue to grow daily. Celia Cruz has become the most idolized Hispanic African-American singer in history.
