Celia Cruz could have her own English TV series
Celia Cruz is still news fifteen years after her departure. Last Wednesday, the entertainment companies Endemol Shine North America and Major TV announced that they acquired the rights to her biography with the purpose of turn it into a television series in English, reported El Nuevo Herald in its digital site.
Celia: My Life will have as executive producer and director the veteran choreographer Kenny Ortega (High School Musical), who will join forces with Flavio Morales, executive vice president of Endemol Shine Latino Initiatives for the United States.
The series is based on the only biography authorized by the Cuban artist called Celia: my life. An autobiography published in 2004 from recordings made during the last five years of her life. The rights were acquired by the company Sarao Entertainment.
"I had the great honor of working with Celia Cruz when I was an emerging choreographer in a small movie called Salsa", recalled Kenny Ortega. "Over the years, my appreciation for his musical talent has grown and deepened. Celia has been an inspiration to many, for which I am much honored to participate in this tribute. "
Throughout his career the Cuban singer was presented in dozens of concerts around the world. His endless list of hits includes El yerberito moderno, Burundanga, and La negra tiene tumbao, just to mention a few titles. Among the multiple recognitions she received, four Grammy Awards and five Latin Grammys stand out.
"There is not a more important name in Latin music than Celia Cruz", said Cris Abrego, CEO of Endemol Shine North America. "We are excited to adapt her amazing life, full of triumphs and tragedy."
"With a voice that transcended language, color, race and gender, Celia Cruz broke barriers, changed the panorama of music and became a global symbol. Capturing the authorized history of her life is an incredible achievement", added Raymond Garcia of Major TV, who has published books by Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez.
Endemol Shine and Major TV were also previously the copyrights owners of To Selena With Love, by Chris Pérez, the successful book that tells the love story between the late Selena Quintanilla and her husband. The figure of the Celia Cruz was already the subject of a telenovela in 2015, starring Cuban singer and actress Aymee Nuviola and produced by Fox Telecolombia and Telemundo.
