How to Hire JOSE FELICIANO For Your Event!
aka: José Montserrate Feliciano García
Based in: New York
Based in: New York
Hire: José Feliciano
GRAMMY award-winning José Montserrate Feliciano García (born September 10, 1945) is a Puerto Rican musician, singer, and composer. He recorded many international hits, including his rendition of the Doors’ “Light My Fire” and his self-penned Christmas song “Feliz Navidad”.
José Feliciano has been acclaimed by critics throughout the world as “the greatest living guitarist.” Guitar Player Magazine has awarded him Best Pop Guitarist for five years running, and placed him in their Gallery of the Greats. He has also been voted both Best Jazz and Best Rock Guitarist in the Playboy Magazine reader’s poll numerous times. Jose has been awarded more than forty Gold and Platinum records, has won sixteen Grammy nominations, earned six Grammy Awards, and is in receipt of countless prestigious awards the world over.
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Being constantly in demand to perform all over the world, Jose has played in front of Royalty and behind what was called, at the time, the Iron Curtain. He has enjoyed performing with top symphony orchestras, including the London Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the famous Vienna Symphony. He has also appeared on major television shows worldwide and has done a number of his own television specials.
José was born blind to humble beginnings 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 eight, he performed for his classmates at PS 57, and at nine, he performed at the Puerto Rican Theater. Wanting to venture beyond the accordion, he taught himself to play the guitar with undaunted determination and again, with nothing but records as his teacher for as many as 14 hours a day. Exposed to the rock-n-roll of the 1950s, Jose was then inspired to sing.
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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, they passed 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 who romps, runs, rolls, picks, and reverberates his six strings in an incomparable fashion.” And added, “If you want to witness the birth of a star, catch Mr. Feliciano before he leaves tomorrow night.”
By the time he was 23, he had won two Grammy Awards, had performed over much of the world, and had recorded songs in four languages. But José Feliciano was not satisfied. He had a desire to expand his career to include acting and made a number of dramatic TV appearances.
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In the 1980s and into the 1990s, José recorded duets with Natalie Cole (“More Than the Stars” on her 1987 album Everlasting), Gloria Estefan (Tengo Que Decirte Algo on her 2000 album Alma Caribeña), Chamaco Rivera (Consuelo on his 1984 album Por Fin), jazz singer Diane Schuur (“By Design” and “The American Wedding Song” on her 1985 album Schuur Thing), and Paul Simon (“Born in Puerto Rico” on his 1997 album Songs from The Capeman).
Venturing into another artistic genre, he was invited, in the early 90’s, by legendary author, Ray Bradbury, to write the music to his play, “The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit.” He did so with the grace of a veteran.
One of Jose’s most memorable moments came the day he joined other entertainment legends in having his star permanently implanted on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (In respect to similar accolades, Jose has also been given a star on the Walk of Fame in his native Puerto Rico, alongside Jose Ferrer and Raul Julia. In addition, Jose had his hands cast for the world-famous Wall of Fame in Madame Tussaud’s in London, England. His ‘hands’ are now on display among artists such as Phil Collins, Andrew Lloyd Weber, Michael Jackson, and The Backstreet Boys. (The induction took place on June 23, 1998, in London.)
José Feliciano earned his sixth Grammy Award in 1991 and is the only performer who has won pop music awards in two language categories. On January 8, 1997, Jose’s “Americano” album was nominated for a Grammy, marking his fifteenth nomination.
José Feliciano is one of the few artists to have signed a multi-tiered record contract with a major label to record in both English and Spanish, as well as classical. Even the local government of New York City has honored Jose by renaming Public School 155 in East Harlem and dedicating it as the Jose Feliciano Performing Arts School.
Three songs that have been milestones for Feliciano are: 1) “Light My Fire,” which was number one on the charts in 1968 and, according to the song publisher, is now a “standard” due to Jose’s interpretation. 2) “Che Sera,” a mega-success in Europe, Asia, and South America; and, of course, 3) “Feliz Navidad,” the Christmas song that has now become a tradition worldwide during the holiday season every year.
From a historical point of view, it should be noted that José Feliciano was the first artist to ever stylize the National Anthem and perform it publicly. He did so during the world series on October 7, 1968, and it was the first time the anthem became a charted Top-40 recording. He opened the door for new generations of stylization; the national anthem has rarely been sung in its strictly traditional form since his historic performance.
Over the years, the world has enjoyed many Feliciano songs, including: “Rain,” “Chico and the Man,” “California Dreamin’,” “Destiny,” “Affirmation,” “Ay Cariño,” “Ponte A Cantar,” “Cuando El Amor Se Acaba,” “Porque Te Tengo Que Olvidar?” and countless others.
During mid-1994, José Feliciano charted on Billboard with a dance-single called “Goin’ Krazy” under the moniker “JF.” This was unprecedented for a classic Pop Artist such as Jose, who had never recorded or released a dance single.
The end of 1994 brought one of Jose’s greatest honors – an invitation to Rome to star on “Christmas at the Vatican” and to have a private audience with Pope John Paul II.
Likewise, José Feliciano has been part of many historic co-billed events where he has shared the stage with other internationally renowned artists. One such event that Jose enjoyed occurred in August of 1995. Jose co-headlined with Paul Simon and James Taylor at the internationally acclaimed ‘Back to The Ranch Benefit‘ on Long Island for an estimated twelve thousand people. In the past, artists such as Billy Joel and Sting have been invited to perform on this show. José Feliciano was honored to be ranked among the caliber of past performers invited to co-headline at this unique benefit.
Throughout 1995, there were numerous TV specials in which Jose appeared. He performed in the USA and Canada, as well as in England, Switzerland, Italy, Vienna, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. Also, that year, Jose had a cameo appearance in the Academy Award-winning motion picture “Fargo” in which he performed “Let’s Find Each Other Tonight,” a Feliciano composition. He filmed this in 1995. During the month of March 1995, he taped a TV special for PBS in which he performed with the Puerto Rican Symphony.
In 1996, the double album entitled “Present Tense” was released in Europe. It is a retrospective collection of songs that spans his 30 years in the music industry. The following year, the same recording was released in North America, entitled “On Second Thought.” Also in 1996, José Feliciano was selected to receive the honor of Billboard Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
In November of 1997, PolyGram released “Americano” worldwide, and he, again, began to tour non-stop in support of this album. It earned José Feliciano his fifteenth Grammy nomination, while the single “No Me Miras Asi” reached the top 10 position in many markets and attained #1 status in New York and Miami.
PolyGram released Jose’s most important recording in many years, entitled, “Señor Bolero.” This album marks a return to his musical roots. Having revolutionized the sound of the bolero early in his career, he rises to a new standard with this classic and very romantic torch song, with which he has long been associated. The first single from Señor Bolero, “Me Has Echado Al Olvido,” shot straight to number one in New York and is considered to be truly on its way to national and international success. In less than six weeks after the release of Señor Bolero, it had earned its first platinum status in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Shortly thereafter, it was nominated by NARAS for Best Latin Pop Album of the Year, marking Jose’s sixteenth nomination.
The Christmas Season of 1998 was particularly festive as José Feliciano was invited to attend and perform at the 75th Annual “Pagaent of Peace” Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Washington, D.C., along with artists Tony Bennett and opera great, Leona Mitchell. Afterwards, Jose and his family were invited by the President and Mrs. Clinton to attend their Christmas reception at the White House.
On December 6, 2006, Feliciano’s Spanish album, José Feliciano y Amigos, was released by Universal Records, featuring Feliciano in duets with other Latin American stars including Luis Fonsi, Lupillo Rivera, Luciano Pereyra, Rudy Pérez, Cristian Castro, Marc Anthony, Ramón Ayala, Alicia Villarreal, Ricardo Montaner, and Raúl di Blasio. A special edition was later released, featuring Ana Gabriel and Gloria Estefan.
On November 9, 2011, José Feliciano received the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences.
José Feliciano has recorded more than 60 albums in his impressive career. Still humbled by all the successes he has had, he feels that he has just started to share his talents with the world.
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