Bio

Her name is Cely Batista, born in Long Island City, New York and raised in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. She is a first generation US American born citizen of Dominican parents. She started singing at the age of 9 years old in the church choir and pursued music throughout High School, taking piano, guitar classes and forming part of the Advanced Choir in school. Since a young age she writes her own music and was inducted into the ASCAP Junior Academy at the age of 17. Cely always saw music as an escape and a hobby but also wanted to have a stable career. She pursued her studies in College attending John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She majored in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice. She also attended Long Island University and obtained her Masters of Science in Human Resources Management.

On January 2006 Cely took on a risky vocation and swore in as a New York City Police Officer. While working, Cely remained in the art and entertainment industry modeling and participated in the 2008 Miss Dominican US Pagent as Miss Montecristi. She, as a natural creative pursued photography and videography, part taking in New York Fashion Week and private for hire shoots. In 2013 after Cely had her first child, she was introduced into forming part of the NYPD La Jara Band as a vocalist. She was also the manager and marketing agent for the band, creating digital content, web design etc. In the year 2021, Cely parted ways from the band due to her fight against the NYC Vaccine Mandate in which she nearly lost her job and sought out an attorney to fight her religious exemption denial. Cely in-turn became a vocal activist for Medical Freedom.

In 2022, Cely began her solo journey and released her first single “For The World” that talks about her struggle and comeback from the mandates and her fight for freedom. In 2023 Cely released an additional 4 more singles and formed her own band named Cellzband. Cely kept her job, is currently a Sergeant of Police, has a husband and two beautiful children and continues to create music and stay artistically inclined with the world.