José Feliciano facts for kids

Quick facts for kids José Feliciano
Feliciano in 1998
Background information
Birth name	José Montserrate Feliciano García
Born	(1945-09-10) September 10, 1945 (age 79) Lares, Puerto Rico
Genres	Latin pop pop soft rock bolero
Occupation(s)	Musician singer composer
Instruments	Guitar cuatro vocals
Years active	1962–present
Labels	RCA Victor Anthem

José Montserrate Feliciano García (born September 10, 1945) is a famous musician from Puerto Rico. He is known for many international hit songs, including his version of the Doors' "Light My Fire" and his own Christmas song, "Feliz Navidad". José Feliciano mixes many music styles like Latin, blues, jazz, soul, and rock. He mainly creates his unique sound with his special acoustic guitar.

In the United States, Feliciano became very popular in the 1960s. His 1968 album Feliciano! reached number 2 on the music charts. Since then, he has released over 50 albums around the world. These albums are in both English and Spanish languages.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

José Montserrate Feliciano García was born on September 10, 1945, in Lares, Puerto Rico. He was the fourth of eleven children. José was born blind because of a condition called congenital glaucoma. He first started playing music at age three. He would play on a cracker tin can while his uncle played the cuatro, a Puerto Rican instrument.

When José was five, his family moved to Spanish Harlem, New York City. He had his first public performance at the Teatro Puerto Rico in The Bronx. José's talent for music was clear when he taught himself to play the accordion at age seven. About two years later, when he was nine, his father gave him his first guitar.

He would play his guitar alone in his room for up to 14 hours a day. He learned by listening to 1950s rock and roll, classical guitar music, and jazz players. Some of his favorite musicians were Andrés Segovia and Wes Montgomery. As a teenager, Feliciano took classical guitar lessons. His teacher, Harold Morris, had also studied with Segovia. José also said that soul music, especially Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, influenced his singing.

At 17, José Feliciano left high school to help his family. He started playing in coffee houses in Greenwich Village, New York. People would give him money in a hat for his performances. His first professional show was at The Retort, a coffee house in Detroit, Michigan.

Career Highlights

Becoming a Star in the 1960s

In 1963, José Feliciano was playing in clubs across the US and Canada. He was discovered while performing at Gerde's Folk City in Greenwich Village. An executive from RCA Victor quickly signed him. In 1964, he released his first song, "Everybody Do the Click." This song became a hit in the Philippines. He was also invited to the 1964 Newport Folk Festival.

In 1965 and 1966, he released his first albums: The Voice and Guitar of José Feliciano and A Bag Full of Soul. These albums showed his talent on radios across the US. A newspaper columnist called him a "10-fingered wizard" in 1963.

In 1966, Feliciano visited Mar del Plata, Argentina, for a festival. He impressed RCA Victor executives so much that they wanted him to record an album in Spanish. José suggested recording some bolero music, which his parents loved. He added his own blues and folk styles to it. This led to two big hit songs: "Poquita Fe" and "Usted." This was the start of many successful songs and albums in Latin America. Feliciano changed the sound of bolero music.

A year later, Feliciano was supposed to perform in the United Kingdom. However, officials would not let his guide dog, Trudy, into the country. Dogs had to be quarantined for six months to prevent rabies. José was very upset and wrote a song about it called "No Dogs Allowed." This song became a Top 10 hit in the Netherlands in 1969.

An advertisement for "Light My Fire" in Billboard magazine, July 13, 1968.

After two more successful albums, Feliciano moved to Los Angeles. He met RCA Victor producer Rick Jarrard. Together, they recorded the hit album Feliciano!, which included the Doors' song "Light My Fire". Feliciano's unique style was becoming clear. It mixed soul, folk, rock, and Latin influences. RCA first released "California Dreamin'" as a single with "Light My Fire" on the other side. A DJ in Seattle, Washington played "Light My Fire," and it became a huge hit. It reached No. 3 on the US pop charts and sold over one million copies. The song was also No. 1 in many countries, including Canada and the UK.

Because of this success, Feliciano won two Grammy Awards in 1968. He won for Best New Artist of the Year and Best Pop Male Performance. This made him famous worldwide. He was known for his unique "crossover" style, blending Latin music with English pop/rock. He is seen as the first classical guitarist to bring the sound of a nylon-string guitar into pop/rock music.

The "Star-Spangled Banner" Performance

On October 7, 1968, during the Vietnam War, Feliciano sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Tiger Stadium in Detroit. This was before a baseball game. His slow, Latin jazz version was very different from the usual. It caused a lot of discussion and hurt his career for a while. Some people thought he had "disrespected" the national anthem. But Feliciano said he wanted people to pay more attention to the song. He later said he was proud to have opened the door for other artists to interpret the anthem. His recording of the anthem became the first time the US anthem appeared on the American music charts. It is now on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

José Feliciano trying herring in Amsterdam in 1970.

In 1969, Feliciano recorded two more gold albums: 10 to 23 and Alive Alive-O!. He also worked with Quincy Jones on the Mackenna's Gold movie soundtrack. He sang the theme song "Old Turkey Buzzard." He appeared on many US television shows, singing with stars like Johnny Cash, Bing Crosby, and Diana Ross.

The 1970s and "Feliz Navidad"

José Feliciano in 1970.

In 1970, Feliciano released a Christmas album. It was later named after its most famous song, ""Feliz Navidad"". During recording, his producer suggested he write a new Christmas song. Feliciano thought about his childhood in Puerto Rico, and "Feliz Navidad" was created. This song has been sung by hundreds of artists worldwide. It is now a traditional part of Christmas music. Every year, "Feliz Navidad" is one of the most played and downloaded Christmas songs. It is also recognized as one of the 25 most-played Christmas songs in the world and is in the Grammy Hall of Fame.

In 1971, Feliciano went to Italy for the Sanremo Music Festival. He sang "Che Sarà" in Italian and came in second place. The song became a hit in Italy and other parts of Europe and Asia. He also recorded it in Spanish as "Qué Será" and in English as "Shake a Hand."

Feliciano wrote and sang the theme song for the 1970s TV show Chico and the Man. He also appeared in one episode as Chico's cousin, Pepe Fernando. In the 1970s, he acted and composed music for other TV shows and movies. He also sang on albums by other artists like Bill Withers and John Lennon. He performed concerts with Carlos Santana and Paul Simon.

In 1975, Feliciano released his instrumental song "Affirmation." Jazz guitarist George Benson later re-released it on his hit album Breezin. In 1974, Feliciano performed in Prague, Czechoslovakia, behind the Iron Curtain.

In 1979, Feliciano recorded a spontaneous version of "Light My Fire" with singer Minnie Riperton. This duet was on Riperton's last album before she passed away.

The 1980s and New Awards

In the 1980s, Feliciano released several successful albums. He won four more Grammy Awards for Best Latin Performer. He recorded a duet called Por Ella with Mexican singer José José, which became a Latin hit. He also sang with Natalie Cole, Gloria Estefan, and Paul Simon.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

José Feliciano received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on December 1, 1987. The City of New York also honored him by renaming Public School 155 as the José Feliciano Performing Arts School. His hands are on the Wall of Fame at Madame Tussauds Museum. He also has a star on the Walk of Fame in his home of Puerto Rico. In 1987, his song "The Sound of Vienna" was a number 1 hit in Austria. He performed it live with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra for over 60,000 people.

The 1990s and Beyond

When José Feliciano became a father in 1988, 1991, and 1995, he enjoyed spending more time at home. He co-hosted a weekly live radio show called Speaking of Music. On the show, he talked about music, played live, and interviewed guest artists.

In 1990, Feliciano released a cover of Richard Marx's "Right Here Waiting." In 1994, he released a dance song called "Goin' Krazy" under the name JF?. This song helped him gain new, younger fans. In 1996, he appeared as himself in the movie Fargo, singing in a lounge.

José Feliciano received the 2000 Grammy Legend Award. He also sang the theme song "Behind the Mask" for the TV series Queen of Swords in 2000.

In 2000, a special TV show called Guitarra Mía honored Feliciano. It featured him and other stars singing his famous songs. This show aired just two days after his mother passed away. The final scenes showed her giving him a standing ovation, which had been recorded earlier.

In 2006, Feliciano released José Feliciano y Amigos, an album of duets with other Latin American stars. In 2007, he released Soundtrax of My Life, his first English album where he wrote all the songs. He also appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman to sing "Old Turkey Buzzard."

In 2008, Feliciano, a Roman Catholic, performed at the Papal Mass at Yankee Stadium in New York. In 2009, he won his 7th Grammy for the album Señor Bolero.

Recent Years: 2010s to Present

In 2011, Feliciano received the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. On May 10, 2010, he performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" again at Comerica Park in Detroit. This was to remember the Detroit Tigers radio announcer Ernie Harwell, who had asked him to perform it before he passed away. José played it in his unique 1968 style.

In 2012, he released a new album called The King, a tribute to Elvis Presley. He also sang God Bless America at a New York Yankees game. In October 2012, he sang his version of the Star-Spangled Banner again at a baseball game in San Francisco. This time, the performance was met with cheers.

In 2017, Feliciano released a jazz and R&B album with UK musician Jools Holland. The album was a hit in the UK.

Golden Anniversary and Special Moments

The year 2018 marked 50 years since Feliciano became famous internationally with his album Feliciano! and "Light My Fire." In May, he returned to Puerto Rico for a special concert called José Feliciano: Transcendental 50th Aniversario de Oro y su Legado.

On Flag Day, June 14, 2018, Feliciano spoke at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.. He donated his Candelas guitar, which he used to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" in 1968, to the museum's collection.

On September 8, 2018, the Detroit Tigers baseball team invited Feliciano to sing the "Star-Spangled Banner" again at their field. This was 50 years after his famous 1968 performance. This time, the crowd cheered loudly. José Feliciano felt at peace with being the first artist to sing the National Anthem in his own style publicly.

Feliciano's 50th anniversary year ended with a Christmas performance at the Vatican in 2018. He and his son, Jonnie, also met Pope Francis.

In January 2019, Feliciano appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in Puerto Rico. He sang "En Mi Viejo San Juan" with Ozuna, a popular reggaeton singer. A studio version of the song was released, and 20% of the money from it goes to a fund that supports arts and culture in Puerto Rico.

In June 2019, Feliciano was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City. He released a new album called Behind This Guitar on January 31, 2020.

Music and Censorship

The Cuban Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s controlled what music and art people could enjoy. Many musicians were banned if they were seen as against the government or too connected to capitalist ideas. Famous artists like the Beatles and Celia Cruz were banned. José Feliciano also faced restrictions after he made comments about Puerto Rico's independence. Even with these bans, his music was still very popular in secret. People would share and enjoy his songs privately, going against the rules.

Personal Life

José Feliciano and his first wife Janna in 1970.

José Feliciano has been married twice. His first wife was Janna (Hilda Pérez). They divorced in 1978.

In 1971, José met Susan Omillian, an art student from Detroit. They dated for 11 years and married in 1982. José and Susan have two sons and one daughter. They live in Weston, Connecticut.

"Feliz Navidad" Parody Controversy

In December 2009, a funny version of "Feliz Navidad" was made. It was called "The Illegal Alien Christmas Song." This song used harmful stereotypes about Mexican immigrants.

José Feliciano released a statement saying he was very upset. He said, "This song has always been a bridge to the cultures that are so dear to me, never as a vehicle for a political platform of racism and hate. It's disgusting and my only wish that my song and I are distanced from the whole affair as soon as possible." The website that posted the song later apologized and removed it.

Awards and Honors

José Feliciano has received many awards for his music.

Billboard Latin Music Awards

Emmy Awards

Grammy Awards

Latin Grammy Awards

Other Awards

• In Ponce, Puerto Rico, Feliciano is honored at the Illustrious Ponce Citizens Plaza.

Discography

See also

In Spanish: José Feliciano para niños

• List of best-selling Latin music artists
• List of Puerto Ricans
• List of Puerto Rican songwriters