Pedro Knight
Encyclopedia
Pedro Knight Caraballo was an accomplished Cuba
n-American
musician who was better known for being the husband of legendary singer Celia Cruz
.
Knight was a trumpet
er for Sonora Matancera
when Cruz was hired, as a back-up singer. The couple soon began a relationship that lasted until Cruz's death in 2003 from a malignant cerebral tumor
.
In 1960, members of the Sonora Matancera moved to Miami, Florida
, fleeing Fidel Castro
's Cuba. In 1961, they began performing at the prestigious Palladium Ballroom
in New York City
.
Knight and Cruz got married in 1962. It was at that point, that Knight decided to step back and let his wife take all the limelight, although he continued to tour as one of her musicians. Ironically, the fact that he took a step back in order to help his wife's career, also made him famous and well-respected across Latin America
. He would be interviewed multiple times by television
shows and make multiple show business friendships, including Maria Celeste Arraras
, who expressed her respects to him about three months after Cruz's death, by telling him on live television to "remember (that we) all like you".
Knight was devastated by Cruz's death. Cruz used to call him "mi cabecita de algodón" ("my little cotton head"). He stood by her side as she suffered from cancer
, and he had expressed hope in public that she would recuperate. They had no children. Cruz died 2 days after their 41st anniversary.
A fact that is not well known by the public is that Knight battled cancer
himself; just one day after his wife underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from her breast
, Knight went through surgery himself, having a cancerous tumor or polyp removed from his colon
, from which he recovered fully.
Although he has been able to attend several activities dedicated to his late wife (such as a book signing
of Cruz's auto-biography), his health was severely affected by her death, and, on July 7, 2004, he fainted during a cancer fundraiser in Miami, requiring hospital
ization. Doctors diagnosed him with low blood pressure, caused by his diabetes and by an emotional breakdown during the ceremony.
Knight was involved in various posthumous projects dedicated to his wife, including books, CD's and a biographical movie.
.
He inherited Cruz's multimillion-dollar fortune, Knight Funeral arrangements were being prepared in Los Angeles and New York City. Knight is survived by one daughter from a previous marriage, Ernestina Knight of Tampa
; and four children in Cuba.Luis Falcon is the man that Celia Cruz and Pedro Knight called their son.
On February 3, 2007, Knight died in a Los Angeles
hospital, aged 85. He was interred at Woodlawn Cemetery
alongside his wife.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician who was better known for being the husband of legendary singer Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz was a Cuban-American salsa singer, and was one of the most successful Salsa performers of the 20th century, having earned twenty-three gold albums...
.
Knight was a trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
er for Sonora Matancera
Sonora Matancera
La Sonora Matancera is a long-time band. Led by guitarist and vocalist Rogelio Martínez, La Sonora Matancera has been called, by the Guinness Book of World Records, "the group with the longest duration."...
when Cruz was hired, as a back-up singer. The couple soon began a relationship that lasted until Cruz's death in 2003 from a malignant cerebral tumor
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
.
In 1960, members of the Sonora Matancera moved to Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, fleeing Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
's Cuba. In 1961, they began performing at the prestigious Palladium Ballroom
Palladium Ballroom
The Palladium Ballroom was a second-floor dancehall on 53rd Street and Broadway in New York City which became famous for its excellent Latin music from 1948 until its closing in 1966.-Opening of Palladium:...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. He would be interviewed multiple times by television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
shows and make multiple show business friendships, including Maria Celeste Arraras
María Celeste Arrarás
Maria Celeste Arrarás is a Puerto Rican journalist and actress and the host and producer of Spanish language news program Al Rojo Vivo Con Maria Celeste.- Biography :...
, who expressed her respects to him about three months after Cruz's death, by telling him on live television to "remember (that we) all like you".
Knight was devastated by Cruz's death. Cruz used to call him "mi cabecita de algodón" ("my little cotton head"). He stood by her side as she suffered from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, and he had expressed hope in public that she would recuperate. They had no children. Cruz died 2 days after their 41st anniversary.
A fact that is not well known by the public is that Knight battled cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
himself; just one day after his wife underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from her breast
Breast
The breast is the upper ventral region of the torso of a primate, in left and right sides, which in a female contains the mammary gland that secretes milk used to feed infants.Both men and women develop breasts from the same embryological tissues...
, Knight went through surgery himself, having a cancerous tumor or polyp removed from his colon
Colon (anatomy)
The colon is the last part of the digestive system in most vertebrates; it extracts water and salt from solid wastes before they are eliminated from the body, and is the site in which flora-aided fermentation of unabsorbed material occurs. Unlike the small intestine, the colon does not play a...
, from which he recovered fully.
Although he has been able to attend several activities dedicated to his late wife (such as a book signing
Autograph
An autograph is a document transcribed entirely in the handwriting of its author, as opposed to a typeset document or one written by an amanuensis or a copyist; the meaning overlaps with that of the word holograph.Autograph also refers to a person's artistic signature...
of Cruz's auto-biography), his health was severely affected by her death, and, on July 7, 2004, he fainted during a cancer fundraiser in Miami, requiring hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
ization. Doctors diagnosed him with low blood pressure, caused by his diabetes and by an emotional breakdown during the ceremony.
Knight was involved in various posthumous projects dedicated to his wife, including books, CD's and a biographical movie.
Death
On September 26, 2005, Knight had to be hospitalized once again, this time suffering from a cerebral hemorrhage. On February 16, 2006, Knight was once again hospitalized, after suffering from pain on his left arm. He was taken to an intensive care unit. He apparently had a heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
.
He inherited Cruz's multimillion-dollar fortune, Knight Funeral arrangements were being prepared in Los Angeles and New York City. Knight is survived by one daughter from a previous marriage, Ernestina Knight of Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
; and four children in Cuba.Luis Falcon is the man that Celia Cruz and Pedro Knight called their son.
On February 3, 2007, Knight died in a Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
hospital, aged 85. He was interred at Woodlawn Cemetery
Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx
Woodlawn Cemetery is one of the largest cemeteries in New York City and is a designated National Historic Landmark.A rural cemetery located in the Bronx, it opened in 1863, in what was then southern Westchester County, in an area that was annexed to New York City in 1874.The cemetery covers more...
alongside his wife.