Neris Amelia Martínez Salazar, better known as Juana Bacallao, is a Cuban singer, musician, cabaret actress, and popular figure who was born on May 26, 1925, in the Havana neighborhood of Cayo Hueso.
Orphaned at the age of six, she was enrolled in a convent school run by the Oblate Sisters, where she learned to play the piano. She also played conga drums. She was discovered by Obdulio Morales, a Cuban director, orchestra composer, and musician, who heard her singing while she was cleaning the stairs at the place where she worked as a domestic worker. The musician offered to audition her, and thus Juana's fortune changed. Her debut was at the Martí Theater, thanks to Obdulio, who composed the guaracha "Yo soy Juana Bacallao" for her, a name she would carry forever.
Juana shared the stage with the most valued and brightest stars of her era, including Rita Montaner, whom she described as a close friend, Meme Solís, Moraima Secada, Celeste Mendoza, Nat King Cole, Bola de Nieve, Ninon Sevilla, Cantinflas, Rosita Fornés, Omara Portuondo, Rafaela Carrá, Benny Moré, Chano Pozo, and Elena Burque. Her artistic life in Cuba was primarily confined to the vibrant nightlife of Havana's top cabarets such as Sans Souci, Tropicana, Copa Room at the Riviera, Parisien at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, Salón Rojo at Capri, Caribe at the Hotel Habana Libre, Bar Alí, and Palermo.
It was presented internationally in the United States, France, Mexico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Spain, and at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, where it successfully held three performances.
Bacallao developed her long career away from television, radio, or the grand theatrical productions that never wanted to showcase her work, even years after the triumph of the revolution, as they deemed it vulgar and inappropriate. Forced into nightclubs, popular festivals, provincial carnivals, and bar shows, Juana carved out her own style on stage, doing as she pleased without adhering to any performance rules, complemented by a unique, exaggerated wardrobe and grotesque makeup. She would forget or change the lyrics while performing, improvise, and speak candidly with the audience without fear of inappropriate remarks. Although she didn't master dance and didn't have a great singing voice, her authenticity made her one of the most beloved and recognized figures among all Cubans, who applauded and eagerly anticipated her performances.
In June 2015, he reconnected with professional colleagues in Miami. There, he attended the show of host Carlos Otero TN3 on América TeVé, sharing the stage with Angel García (Antolín el Pichón and La Pia) and Boncó Quiñongo.
In November 2018, actor Will Smith, who was visiting Cuba, performed alongside Bacallao, the band Cimafunk, and Kelvis Ochoa at the Fábrica del Arte Cubano.
In 2018, at the age of 93, she joined the Cuban music project "Tradicionales de los 50," which was presented at the Rosalía de Castro Society, where she continued to perform her iconic songs like Mata Siguaraya and Yo Soy Juana Bacallao.
In July 2019, the popular Cuban singer Cimafunk released the music video for his song "Ponte pa' lo tuyo," featuring Juana Bacallao, El Tosco, and Roberto Carcassés.
He has received the Distinction for National Culture, the "Alejo Carpentier" Medal, and a Gold Record in Canada.
