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 six, she was placed in a convent school run by the Oblate Sisters, where she learned to play the piano. She also played the tumbadoras. She was discovered by Obdulio Morales, a Cuban director, orchestra composer, and musician, who heard her singing while she was cleaning the stairs of the place where she worked as a domestic worker. The musician offered to audition her, and thus Juana's fortunes changed. Her debut was at the Teatro Martí, with Obdulio, who composed the guaracha "Yo soy Juana Bacallao" for her, a name she would carry forever.
Juana shared the stage with some of the most esteemed and shining figures of her time, 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 confined to the Havana nights in the main cabarets such as Sans Sousi, Tropicana, Copa Room at the Riviera, Parisien at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, the Red Room at Capri, Caribe at the Hotel Habana Libre, Bar Alí, and Palermo.
It was internationally presented in the United States, France, Mexico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Spain, and at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, where it had three successful performances.
Bacallao developed her long career away from television, radio, or the major theater productions that never wanted to promote her work, even years after the revolution's triumph, considering it vulgar and inappropriate. Displaced to nightclubs, popular parties, provincial carnivals, and bar shows, Juana forged her own style on stage, doing as she pleased without following any acting rules, complemented by a unique, exaggerated wardrobe and grotesque makeup. She would forget or change the lyrics on stage, improvise, and engage freely with the audience without fear of unflattering comments. Although she lacked dance skills and a powerful voice, her authenticity made her one of the most beloved and recognized popular figures among Cubans, who applauded her and eagerly anticipated each performance.
In June 2015, he reconnected with professional colleagues in Miami. There, he attended the show of the host Carlos Otero TN3, from 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 such as 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.
