José Feliciano
José Feliciano ( born September 10, 1945 in Lares, Puerto Rico ) is a Puerto Rican singer and guitarist.
Life
Jose Feliciano was born the son of a farmer. He has an older and nine younger brothers. Due to a congenital glaucoma, he has been blind since birth. At the age of five, he moved with his family to Harlem, New York City. At age nine, he played at the Teatro Puerto Rico. He was able to play several instruments, including accordion, then became interested in but for the guitar. To be undisturbed, he sometimes joined 14 hours a day in his room and heard rock music of the 1950s.
At 17 he left school to perform in clubs and thus to feed his family. This year, he also had his first professional contract gig in Detroit.
In 1966, he went to Mar del Plata, Argentina, to perform at a festival. There he was discovered by RCA Victor, who wanted to record an album in Spanish with him. Feliciano suggested Bolero music and the result were the two successful hits Poquita Fe ( little confidence ) and fists ("You " by Usted ).
After two more successful plates Feliciano had attained a high degree of popularity in Latin America. In order to become famous in the U.S., he moved to Los Angeles. He composed the song Feliz Navidad ( Merry Christmas), who has become a Christmas classic, and his own version of The Doors song Light My Fire. With the two pieces he was suddenly successful and he sold millions of albums.
José Feliciano had with David Carradine and Cannonball Adderley in 1975 made an appearance in the 55th episode of the American television series Kung Fu.
In 1968 he won the Grammy for "All the Best New Artist Of The Year ".
At the height of the protests against the Vietnam War in 1968 Feliciano had the opportunity, the national anthem The Star- Spangled Banner during the World Series to sing. His very personal, slow Latin jazz version was very controversial. Some called his performance unpatriotic and even demanded his deportation. Others understood the feelings and sincerity of his performance, and he was the hero of the counter-movement. The recording was released as a single and was on the Billboard charts in the top 40 places.
Feliciano is one of the few singers who have managed to be successful both with Spanish music and English rock and roll. In 1987 he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In 1995, Feliciano was honored by the government of New York, the renamed public school No. 155 in José Feliciano Performing Arts School. In 1996, he had, in which he played a brief appearance in the Oscar - winning movie Fargo the Coen brothers themselves.
José Feliciano had an illegitimate son, who, however, died a few weeks after birth. With his wife Susan, he has a daughter and two sons.