Jose Feliciano

[Ms. Kathy]

Info comes from Jose's web site at josefeliciano.zoovy.com/category/main

Jose was born on September 10, 1945, in Lares, Puerto Rico. One of eleven boys, his love affair with music began at the age of three when he first accompanied his uncle on a tin cracker can. When he was five, his family immigrated to New York City. Young Jose learned to play the concertina at age six, using a handful of records as his teacher. At nine, he performed at The Puerto Rican Theater. He taught himself to play the guitar again, with nothing but records as his teacher. Exposed to the rock-n-roll of the 50's, Jose was then inspired to sing.

At 17, Jose quit school. His father was not working at the time and he needed to help his family. He played coffee houses in Greenwich Village and for his salary --as was customary during that time period in small clubs-- they'd "pass the hat". He played his first professional engagement that same year in Detroit. Shortly thereafter, a music critic writing of his performance at Gerde's Folk City referred to him as a "10-fingered wizard ." And added, "If you want to witness the birth of a star, catch Mr. Feliciano before he leaves tomorrow night."

Jose's first major break in the industry, however, happened in the Spanish market when, in 1966, after a performance at the Mar del Plata Festival in Argentina, the RCA executives in Buenos Aires encouraged Jose to stay there and record an album of Spanish music. "I suggested that we record a number of old boleros--songs I had heard from the time I was a kid." Jose had taken long-time standards and made them brand new
Producer, Rick Jarrard, recommended Jose record a Doors' song he had been doing in his concerts, locally--a tune called, "Light My Fire".

By the time he was 23, he had earned five Grammy nominations and won two Grammy Awards for his album "Feliciano!", had performed over much of the world, and had recorded songs in four languages.

One of Jose's most memorable moments came on December 1, 1987 when he joined other entertainment legends in having his star permanently implanted on the world renowned Hollywood Walk of Fame. Similarly, Jose has also been given a star on the Walk of Fame in his native Puerto Rico.