Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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FELICIANO, Jose

(b 10 September 1945, Lares, Puerto Rico) Singer, songwriter, guitarist. Born blind, second of twelve children, he grew up in NYC's Spanish Harlem, began playing accordion and guitar, dropped out of high school and played clubs in Greenwich Village 'not for coins but just for the hell of it'. First LP The Voice And Guitar Of Jose Feliciano the next year on RCA gained huge following in Central and South America; breakthrough in USA with Feliciano! '68 included single 'Light My Fire', cover of Doors hit combining soul, Latin, folk-rock, made no. 4 in pop chart, won two Grammys including Best New Artist. Subsequent USA chart entries were minor ('Hi-Heeled Sneakers' and a controversial version of 'Star-Spangled Banner', both '68) but sell-out tours continued through the '70s, with more than 30 gold records in various countries.

He had an Emmy nomination for TV theme of Chico And The Man '74; acted in episodes of McMillan And Wife '75, Kung Fu and Lucas Tanner as well as Chico. He sessioned with John Lennon in the mid-'70s and the same day on a Joni Mitchell date which included hit 'Free Man In Paris'. He switched from RCA to the ill-fated Private Stock label '76; with his wife Janna Merlyn Feliciano wrote score for film Aaron Loves Angela that year; and after album Sweet Soul Music '76 came back with Jose Feliciano on Motown '80. Other RCA LPs included A Bag Full Of Soul '65; Alive Alive-O '69 (live at London's Palladium); Fireworks '70 (included a guitar arrangement from Handel's Royal Fireworks Music alongside a cover of Rolling Stones' 'Satisfaction'); That The Spirit Needs '71; Compartments '74; Just Wanna Rock'n'Roll '75. Other LPs on RCA International: Como Tu Quieras, Grandes Exitos, Ya Soy Tuyo; he had a new release on Dèbutante Americano '97.