Olga Guillot, legendary Cuban singer, ‘Queen of the Bolero,’ dies in Miami at 86

Olga Guillot, legendary Cuban singer, dead at 86

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Olga Guillot, the legendary Cuban bolero singer who became the first Latin artist to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York, has died. She was 86.

The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s office said Guillot died Monday at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach.

Guillot was born in Santiago, Cuba, and was first recognized for her singing talent at age 13, when she placed second in a singing contest with her sister. At 20, she performed with Edith Piaf.

She left Cuba in 1962, two years after the start of the communist revolution, and settled in Mexico.

Over the years, Guillot recorded 14 records that went gold and 10 platinum.

She also participated in more than 20 movies, almost always acting as herself.