Salsa legend Celia Cruz escaped Cuba and ended up in Fort Lee where she lived out the rest of her life. On the occasion of the 100^th year of her birth, the New Jersey Hall of Fame at American Dream in East Rutherford—in conjunction with the estate of Celia Cruz—will celebrate her 2013 NJHOF induction on October 4.

There’s a rest stop in Forked River (Ocean County) on the Garden State Parkway in honor of New Jersey Hall of Famer Celia Cruz. When “The Queen Of Salsa” escaped Castro in 1961, she ultimately—after brief stops in New York City and Miami—wound up in Fort Lee (Bergen County) where she lived out the rest of her life. Now her Tremendo Trio (Craft Recordings Latino), with percussionist Ray Barretto and vocalist Adalberto Santiago, long out-of-print, returns to glorious life as Craft will re-release it on vinyl October 3 in honor of the centennial of the birth of Celia Cruz.

In 2024, just last month, the New Jersey Hall of Fame at American Dream on Route #3 in East Rutherford started hosting a special exhibit honoring Celia Cruz's powerful voice, colorful costumes and vibrant personality. It will stay open throughout November as an extension of America’s Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15).