Cheo Feliciano

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Cheo Feliciano

Cheo Feliciano , actually Jose Luis Feliciano Vega (born July 3, 1935 in Ponce , † April 17, 2014 in San Juan ), was a Puerto Rican composer and singer of salsa and bolero music.

Life

His nickname "Cheo" avoids confusion with the other famous Puerto Rican singer José Feliciano , with whom he was not related. He was influenced by the Bolero Music of the Trio Los Panchos . In 1952 Feliciano moved to New York City and lived in Spanish Harlem . He became a percussionist in Ciro Rimac's Review band. Band leader Tito Rodríguez heard Feliciano and offered him to play in his orchestra . After some time with Rodriguez, he played conga for Luis Cruz. He was also a roadie for Mon Rivera .

In 1955, Tito Rodriguez recommended him to Joe Cuba , who was looking for a singer for his sextet. Feliciano was one of the few baritone singers among the salsa singers, and his deep voice and quick wit as an improviser made him a crowd favorite.

On October 5th, 1957 Feliciano made his professional debut as a singer with the song Perfidia . He married the same day. He sang with the sextet for ten years. The greatest successes were the songs

  • A la Seis (at six),
  • Como Ríen (how they laugh),
  • El Pito (I'll Never Go Back To Georgia) and
  • El Ratón (The Mouse), which he composed.

Feliciano was an anti-war activist during the Vietnam War .

In 1967 he joined the Eddie Palmieri Orchestra and sang with them for two years. A heroin addiction threatened his life and career. He chose to heal himself with cold withdrawal and eventually went to Puerto Rico's Hogares CREA rehabilitation center. He said Tite Curet Alonso , the author of most of his songs and his best friend, helped him through rehabilitation. Feliciano spoke out vehemently against drugs and helped other salsa artists who also had addiction problems.

In 1972 Feliciano returned to music and released the album Cheo , his first solo recording, which was immensely successful, including the following titles:

  • Anacaona and
  • Mi Triste Problema (My sad problem)

During the 1970s, Feliciano recorded with the Fania Record Co. label and enjoyed success with Amada Mia (My Love) and Juan Albañil . He was also involved in the first salsa opera Hommy .

In 1982 Feliciano founded his own record company, Coche Records . In 1990 he recorded his first bolero album entitled Los Feelings de Cheo . He performed in many Latin American countries, including Cuba and Venezuela . In Venezuela he performed again with Eddie Palmieri. In 1995 Feliciano won a Platinum Record Award for La Combinación Perfecta (The Perfect Combination).

In 2000, Feliciano recorded Mil Voces, Mil Recuerdos (A Thousand Voices, A Thousand Memories), a tribute to various Puerto Rican singers.

Cheo Feliciano lived in Puerto Rico and continued to take boleros. He was the anti-drug spokesman for the Puerto Rico government.

On April 17, 2014, Cheo Feliciano died at the age of 78 as a result of a traffic accident in San Juan.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Salsa star "Cheo" Feliciano dies in a car accident. In: Focus from April 17, 2014 (accessed April 17, 2014).
personal data
SURNAME Feliciano, Cheo
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Vega, Jose Luis Feliciano (real name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Puerto Rican composer and singer of salsa and bolero music
DATE OF BIRTH July 3, 1935
PLACE OF BIRTH Ponce , Puerto Rico
DATE OF DEATH 17th April 2014
Place of death San Juan , Puerto Rico