Havana, May 26 (RHC)-- Juana Bacallao, the legendary Cuban artist celebrates her 96th birthday, this May 26th.
Born Neris Amelia Martínez Salazar, she is also known as Juana la Cubana. This unique Cuban singer and musician started her professional singing career under the aegis of Cuban pianist, conductor, composer and ethnomusicologist Obdulio Morales, who composed the famous guaracha "Juana Bacallao", which became her stage name.
Also called the dark goddess of Cuban cabarets, Bacallao was born in the working-class neighborhood of Cayo Hueso in Havana. Orphaned at age 6, she was sent to a Catholic boarding school and subsequently worked as a house cleaner until she was discovered by Obodulio Morales, allegedly while she sang as she cleaned a house.
Throughout her career she has toured around the world and performed in the United States, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico, Venezuela, Dominican Republic and Spain.
A National Humor Prize laureate, Juan Bacallao or Juana la Cubana shared on stage with other all-time great Cuban and foreign artists like Nat King Cole, Bola de Nieve, Chano Pozo, Beny Moré, Rita Montaner, and Celeste Mendoza.
