MIAMI, Oct. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Eventus, the leading multicultural experiential, sports and entertainment marketing company in the United States, and the Celia Cruz Estate, proudly honor the Queen of Salsa's birthday today with a custom-designed Google Doodle celebrating her life and legacy. Google, Inc., the multinational corporation specializing in Internet-related services and products, chose the music icon, who died in 2003, to grace their search engine's home page today, on what would have been her 88^th birthday.

"Ten years after her passing, it is incredible how 'alive' she still is. Her voice and image are present everywhere and her impact on culture worldwide is immeasurable", said Nelson Albareda, CEO of Eventus. "Celia continues to bring joy and enrich the lives of so many globally. We are grateful to Google for our collaboration in assuring that her legacy continues to reach new fans around the world."

Cuban-born Celia Cruz was internationally recognized as the "Queen of Salsa" and during her lifetime received countless awards and honors including three GRAMMY^® Awards, four Latin GRAMMY^®s, the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Smithsonian Institution, among other accolades. In 1994, US President Bill Clinton awarded her the highest honor the country bestows upon an artist:  the National Endowment for the Arts.  Celia recorded over 78 albums, many of which obtained platinum status and have been distributed worldwide. The Smithsonian Museum hosted an exhibit called Azucar: The Life and Music of Celia Cruz, and in 2011, the United States Postal Service honored her invaluable contributions to the entertainment industry and international impact by placing her image on a US postage stamp as part of the Latin Music Legends Series. 

"There have been many posthumous tributes to Celia in these last ten years, but this one by Google is certainly one of the most important and far-reaching. The creation of her very own Google Doodle, an honor bestowed on a select few who have made special contributions to mankind, is a testament of her significance, not just musically, but culturally," said Omer Pardillo-Cid, sole executor of the Celia Cruz Estate. "She would have loved it!"

The Celia Cruz Estate and Eventus, the sole representative of the Celia Cruz Estate, continue to jointly develop a comprehensive global strategy to keep her legacy alive and to reach new generations with her timeless music.

About Eventus                                                                                                                                    Eventus is an experiential, sports and entertainment marketing company focused on connecting brands with consumers.  Eventus operates distinct business units focused on delivering innovative event properties, media properties, and integrated promotional programs targeting the multicultural markets.  The company is headquartered in Miami with offices in major cities across the United States.  For more information on Eventus, please visit www.eventuslive.com.

SOURCE Eventus