Felipe Rose facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Felipe Rose
|
|
|---|---|
Felipe Rose on stage
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Felipe Ortiz Rose |
| Born | January 12, 1954 Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Disco |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1970–present |
Felipe Ortiz Rose was born on January 12, 1954. He is an American musician. Felipe was one of the first members of the famous disco group, the Village People.
In the group, he was known as "The Indian." He often wore a special costume. This costume included a decorated war bonnet, a loincloth, and face paint. Felipe was part of the Village People from 1977 until 2017. After leaving the group, he started his own music career. In 2018, he released a song called "Going Back to My Roots."
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Felipe Ortiz Rose was born in Manhattan, New York City. His father was from a Native American background. He moved to New York for work. There, he met Felipe's mother, who was Puerto Rican. Felipe has shared that his father had roots in the Mescalero Apache, Lakota, and Cherokee tribes.
Felipe grew up in Brooklyn. From a young age, he loved the arts. He first dressed as "an Indian" for a school event. This was for the Christopher Columbus parade and celebration.
After finishing high school in 1972, Felipe moved to Greenwich Village. He stayed with friends there. He also spent time in Provincetown, Massachusetts. In Provincetown, he performed his "Indian" character in a show.
Felipe says his mother was his biggest inspiration. She was a dancer at the Copacabana club in the 1940s and 1950s.
Joining the Village People
In the early 1970s, Felipe Rose worked as a dancer in nightclubs. An aunt encouraged him to dance in clothes inspired by his father's heritage. This idea led to his unique costume and face paint in the Village People. He has said his aunt asked, "Why not honor your father's heritage and dress in your tribal regalia in your dance journey through culture?"
Felipe was dancing and working at a New York nightclub. He was dressed "as an Indian" when he was noticed by French producer Jacques Morali. Another producer, Henri Belolo, was also involved. They asked Felipe to join their new group, the Village People. He was the very first member they chose.
In 1977, the Village People had their first hit song, "San Francisco." This song became popular in the United Kingdom. Then, in 1978, they had big hits in the U.S. These included "Macho Man" and "Y.M.C.A.."
Felipe was also on the board of directors for the band. This group was called Sixuvus Ltd. The name meant "six of us," for the six members of the Village People.
Solo Music Career
From 2000 to 2008, while still with the Village People, Felipe wrote and recorded several songs. These included "Trail of Tears," "We're Still Here," "Red Hawk Woman," and "Going Back to My Roots."
His song "Trails of Tears" won an award. It received a NAMMY (Native American Music Awards) for Best Historical Recording. In 2002, Felipe Rose performed at the start of the fifth Annual Native American Music Awards. This event was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His media company was called the "Tomahawk Group."
Felipe Rose has also appeared in movies. These include Can't Stop the Music (1980), The Best of Village People (1993), and Feathers and Leathers: The Story of the Village People (1999). He was also in a 2000 documentary about the group.
In 2008, Felipe Rose received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A month later, he was added to the Native American Music Hall of Fame.
His 2018 song, "Going Back to My Roots," starts with a Lakota prayer. It also features a rap by Native American hip-hop artist Sten Joddi. He first performed this song at a special show. The show celebrated the 40th anniversary of the movie Saturday Night Fever.
By 2014, Felipe had become an ordained minister. This allowed him to marry fans. He once married a couple on a ship in Australia.
Personal Life
After his mother passed away, Felipe Rose moved to Richmond, Virginia. He lived for a short time in Jersey City, New Jersey. However, he found it too crowded.
In 2008, he shared that he had moved to Asbury Park, New Jersey. Friends had suggested the place. He said, "So I came down and I just fell in love with the shore... I love the diversity of Asbury because it brings everyone together."
Felipe Rose also enjoys cooking as a hobby. He makes dishes inspired by his Puerto Rican background. He learned to cook when he was young. He even suggested a cooking show to a TV network. The idea was to cook meals at different celebrities' homes. He later worked on the show idea with Chef Lou Petrozza. However, the network would only agree if the other Village People members were also on the show. As of 2021, he continues to cook on his YouTube channel.
See also
In Spanish: Felipe Rose para niños
- List of Puerto Ricans
