Which Cuban-born singer was famous for the catchphrase '¡Azúcar!'?

The Cuban-born singer famous for the catchphrase “¡Azúcar!” was Celia Cruz.

Cruz was born in Havana in 1925 and became one of the defining voices of Cuban and international salsa. Her career began with Cuba’s celebrated orchestra La Sonora Matancera, which she joined in 1950. After leaving Cuba in 1960, she built a major career in the United States and became known as the “Queen of Salsa.”

“¡Azúcar!”—Spanish for “Sugar!”—became Cruz’s instantly recognizable stage exclamation. She used it as a burst of energy during performances, and it eventually became closely associated with her flamboyant costumes, powerful voice, and celebratory musical persona.

A common mix-up is confusing Cruz with Gloria Estefan, another internationally famous Cuban-born singer. Estefan is strongly associated with Latin pop and Miami Sound Machine, while Cruz’s signature repertoire includes salsa classics such as “Quimbara,” “La Vida Es Un Carnaval,” and “La Negra Tiene Tumbao.”