Miriam Cruz was only 13 years old when her parents, Luis Thomas Cruz and Luisa Ramírez, decided that she would join Las Chicas del Can (1982). Maestro Wilfrido Vargas was already a sponsor of the group that Belkis Concepción founded in the late 1970s, whose members were exclusively women.
Even at a young age, Miriam was distinguished by her melodic voice. In Ensanche, Luperón always saw his father playing the guitar and being part of some musical trios. Her father in particular encouraged her to sing and nurtured her dream of becoming a great artist.
Wilfrido knew about Miriam’s vocal qualities, as there is a familial relationship between them, and he predicted that she would become a star of Dominican music. And like many of his predictions, he wasn’t wrong.
Miriam begins to work in the group, in which there are also four other minors who need documents signed by their parents, a permit that allows them to work and leave the country. At that time, Belkis Concepción’s mother took care of her.
“I did the first interview here in the Listín Diario when I was 14 years old, so I was very nostalgic when I arrived and saw the gardens,” says the current “Diva of Merengue” during a visit to the editorial team of this newspaper . .
Miriam Cruz began her career with the support of Wilfrido Vargas and Michael Fullam
The merengue singer is celebrating 38 years as an artist and, as in New York, is preparing special events in Santiago and Santo Domingo.
“The story continues” is the title of the show produced by René Brea and Alberto Cruz, with presentations on October 12th and 13th at the Gran Teatro Cibao in Santiago de los Caballeros and on the 14th at the Teatro La Fiesta at the Jaragua Hotel. , in Santo Domingo.
FIRST STAGE
Stopping playing with her friends and becoming a merengue singer for Miriam was just a fantasy back then. Going on stage, being part of the music, singing, dancing and receiving applause “was like living a dream,” he admits.
Although it was very sad for the young girl, the youngest of five siblings, to leave her parents at such a young age.
“It was very sad, I separated from my parents at a young age and cried a lot because the tours lasted for months and we only returned to the country for a week, but then I got used to it,” she remembers.
Despite the shyness with which he entered the group and despite the lack he felt for his parents, he never thought of leaving them.
She remembers that she suffered a kind of emotional shock when she was first taken to the group because she thought she would be part of a youth group, as was common at the time in the Menudo or Los Chicos style, and ” I saw this group of women playing instruments, playing merengue, and it impressed me.”
One of the saddest moments The time he lived in these early days was when his father died and Las Chicas del Can were touring in Puerto Rico. Miriam was asked to return to Santo Domingo and, deceived, she came to her father’s wake.
“It was very sad for me because my father could not imagine his daughter becoming an artist, but for the rest I thank God because everything I experienced in Las Chicas del Can allowed me to be anything “What I am, the discipline, a “school,” he says.
However, he got to know her through his ten-year stay in a music group made up of women.
“I was the girl and the elders took care of me, that helped me grow and understand that women have our periods and that we need our space. It is true that there was usually a little gossip, but we learned from each other, which allowed us to be together for the vast majority of ten years,” she comments.
Miriam Cruz has been practicing merengue for 38 years with songs that are part of the traditional Dominican rhythm. Michael Fullam
YOUR INDEPENDENCE
She was only 23 years old when she told her mentor Wilfrido Vargas in 1992 that she would not continue in the group; Economic reasons led her to set off alone and live a new phase that would shape her life forever.
When she parted ways with Las Chicas del Can, the group continued its international tour and did not receive the same ovation without Miriam, so the other members returned and proposed to the merengue singer to form her orchestra.
Miriam says that she always used her savings and used them to found Miriam y sus Chicas, then signed a record deal with Karen Record and experienced extraordinary development as an artist.
In this phase comes the success of “La loba” (1992) and he records others, such as “Con Agua de sal” (1994) by Manuel Jiménez, with which he takes part in the Oti Festival and takes fourth place, which he also records songs by Juan Luis Guerra and Ramón Orlando.
THE FAMILY
She was not yet 30 years old and decided to start a family, married Tuto Taveras and had her two children, Mayrim and Diego.
In this phase, Miriam devotes herself to her private life, taking care of her children and taking the opportunity to perform musical theater, embodying “Evita Perón” directed by Maestro Amaury Sánchez.
“The separation also came and the many members of the group also began to start their families.” At this time, music was left out, although due to her extensive repertoire she repeatedly appeared on some stages with a mixed orchestra.
The consecration
Miriam defines herself as a woman who firmly believes in God. During the times when she was alone, divorced, and away from the group, she only trusted that God would send her the person who would take care of the group and her life.
In fact, God sent it to her in a single package: she met her husband and manager Engel Landolfi, with whom she has had a loving and business relationship for 20 years.
At this stage, the success “Cosas de él” (2011) brings her back to the big stages and catapults her to become the big star of merengue.
In this new return, Miriam changes formats and Teresa Domínguez, the unique güirera who gracefully dances the song “Juana la Cubana”, leaves the group.
Miriam remembers them fondly because when there was a standoff, they had already forgiven each other. Likewise her friend and comrade Eunice Betances, who died of breast cancer in 2014 and was her good friend and godmother to her daughter Mayrim.
Miriam Cruz: “I cried a lot because the tours lasted for months”
“Eunice was my great friend and protector when I started music, she is an angel to me,” he remembers.
Working with her husband was not difficult for the artist because she knew how to respect Landolfi’s roles.
“I believed in him, I respected him as a manager, as a husband I know when he needs his space and how I can help him,” he admits about his married life.