Feliciano, José

Feliciano, José, Latin pop guitarist/vocalist; b. Lares, PR., Sept. 10, 1945. Blind at birth from congenital glaucoma, Feliciano became a pop sensation in the late 1960s. Moving easily between flamenco, soul, jazz, and softer pop, between English-language and Spanish-language recording, Feliciano has been a notable per-former for more than three decades. Born in P.R., Feliciano came with his family to Spanish Harlem in the early 1950s. His first “instrument” was a tin cracker can, which he used to back up his also-musical uncle. A prodigy, Feliciano taught himself to play the concertina at age six and effortlessly moved on to accordion and guitar soon afterward. When he first heard rock ’n’ roll, he was inspired to add singing to his talents. To help support the family, Feliciano quit school at age 17 and spent the remainder of his teenage years busking at the same Greenwich Village coffeehouses that produced Bob Dylan. After an appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival, he released a pair of albums that showcased his supple vocals and flamenco-influenced fretwork—The Voice and Guitar of Jose Feliciano and The Fantastic Feliciano—and then a set of Spanish- language LPs. But Feliciano’s name first loomed truly large in 1968, when his cover of The Doors’ “Light My Fire” hit #1, and his stylized version of the national anthem at the World Series in Detroit stirred controversy. The following year, his “Light My Fire” seemed to be everywhere, and Feliciano was everywhere else, releasing three new albums, charting with a cover of Tommy Tucker’s “Hi Heeled Sneakers,” and netting a Grammy for Best New Artist.

Continuing to release English- and Spanish-language albums, Feliciano recorded the holiday standard “Feliz Navidad,” hit the charts occasionally (most notably with the theme song to the Freddie Prinze sitcom Chico and the Man), and guested on records by performers as diverse as Michael Nesmith, Joni Mitchell, Minnie Riperton, and John Lennon. Then, in 1998, Feliciano enjoyed an echo of his heyday, seeing his album Senor Bolero go platinum and its first single, “Me Has Echado Al Olvido,” hit #1 in N.Y. An overdue resurgence in a career that’s far from over, these honors merely contributed to the stats on Feliciano’s 40+ gold and platinum records, 16 Grammy nominations, six Grammy wins, and five-time placement as Guitar Player magazine’s annual Best Pop Guitarist. A Grammy winner in two languages, Feliciano is an icon to culture-crossing successors like Ricky Martin.

Discography

El Sentimiento, La Voz Y La Guitarra (1967); Feliciano! (1968); Souled (1969); The Christmas Album (1970); Escenas De Amor (1982); Tu Inmenso Amor (1987); All Time Greatest Hits (1988); Light My Fire (1992); Mis Mejores Canciones—17 Super Exitos (1993); Americano (1996); Exitos Y Recuerdos (1996); …On Second Thought (1996); Passion of Feliciano (1997); Senor Bolero (1998); El Amor De Mi Vida—Masterpieces (1998); The Very Best of Josee Feliciano (1999); Noches De Bohemia (2000).