Tuesday, 13 September 2011 14:07
Juana Bacallao. Photo courtesy of cubadebate.cu
Born in the 20´s, Juana Bacallao is without a doubt, one of the best representatives of popular Cuban culture.
Nellys Amelia Martínez Salazar —her real name— started out in the Martí Theater and triumphed with the song "Juana Bacallao," the alias that would accompany her until this day. Charismatic and charming, this female has all of the energy and magic of popular Cuban wisdom. Not always understood by some, Juana has been unique in her genre as an eccentric musician, a show-woman, one of the best on the scene.
The Havana night always tells of her presence, proof being in her memorable performances in places such as "Tropicana," "Ali Bar" (next to Benny Moré), "Salón Rojo del Capri" (with "Caperucita se divierte," where she had two very successful years), "Palermo," "Sans Souci" and other cabarets.
Internationally, she´s performed her art on various stages such as Olimpia Theater and Paris´ Opera Comique, where she participated as a guest of honor for five years. She also joined the Compañía de Los Hermanos Montalvo (México) and performed with them in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she was the first Cuban artist to perform in the city, along with singer and actress Natalia Herrera.
In her career, she´s shared the stage with huge figures such as Benny Moré, Celeste Mendoza, Omara Portuondo, Libertad Lamarque, El Gordo y el Flaco, Nat King Cole, Pacho Alonso, Xiomara Alfaro, Bola de Nieve, Los Papines, Elena Burke, Cesar Portillo de la Luz, Rosita Fornés and Marlon Brando, with whom she had a very special friendship.
Other major artists on the international scene have enjoyed her as well, such as Michael Jackson, who saw in her, a big stars´ magic touch.
Today, Juana Bacallao continues to be active in the music scene, performing every Friday night at the club "El gato tuerto," drawing many. She continues to be natural, despite her fame and having been awarded the Arlequín, which is given to grand spectaculars performed throughout the world, and named after the well-known Santo Domingo from the Dominican Republic, which has a street named after him.
Juana Bacallao is a symbol of Cuba and a most genuine art. She comes to us as a synthesis of a full, ineffable artists, which is attested to by Pastor Vega, an outstanding, dedicated Cuban filmmaker.
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