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<- An artist who has been kept in the shadows for many decades ->
As of late I'm not sure if it's because it's late in the year and lately I've been thinking a lot about my great grandmother (R.I.P)
But I've been listening to a lot of music from yesteryear.
There's a particular artis whom I've been doing a lot of reading on. This artist I've been listening for years. Since childhood up until today but like I said lately I've been playing a lot of his music.
Not only is this man a great guitarist but he's a musical genius. His sense for a note or a key in a song is exceptional.
Jose Feliciano is a Puerto Rican singer and guitarist. He was born permanently blind due to congenital glaucoma. Feliciano overcame the effects of this impairment to score many international hits.
He was born in Lares, Puerto Rico, one of eleven children. He was first exposed to music at age three. At five, his family moved to SpanishHarlem, New York City and, at age nine, he played on the Teatro Puerto Rico. He started his musical life playing accordion until his grandfather gave him a guitar. He reputedly sat by himself in his room for up to 14 hours a day to listen to 1950s rock albums, classical guitarists such as Andrés Segovia, and jazz players such as Wes Montgomery. He later had classical lessons with Harold Morris who earlier had been a student with Segovia.
At 17, he quit school to play in clubs, having his first professional, contracted performance in Detroit.
It sucks that all these music experts, music reviewers, managers, record companies, music magazines, radio DJs and other guitar "experts" then over the decades destroyed and laughed at his career, his music, his virtuosity and his art.
He didn't deserve what happened to him.
Here's a BIG Thank You, from me and all the music world in all these decades we missed a genius because of shit you guys did.
His dog was denied entry into Great Britain because they felt it would spread rabies.
He was told by many managers that he would never make it.
He was told to stop rocking so much on the chair and to wear glasses because he looked like a freak without glasses.
In 1968 during the Vietnam War he was given the opp. to perform the Star Spangled Banner during the world series. Well that didn't go so well, a Puerto Rican who modified the SSB into this latino slow, jazzy song
That didn't fly with America and hurt Feliciano he was told by managers that no one would manage him hear in the states after that and he was done here in the States. His rendition was made before the Hendrix rendition in Woodstock...
With over 50 albums he has sold MILLIONS literally ALL AROUND the WORLD.
Far to many places to list.
This man can do no wrong whe he "remakes" a song. I don't consider what he does a cover because a cover song is just someone replaying the song and singing it with their voice.
Well that's not what Feliciano does, Feliciano literally makes it a whole new song. New notes, adds lyrics etc. etc. etc.
It's totally new songs...
I really think the world missed out on a great artist on a special gift from god that should have gotten A LOT more recognition in his hey day and should be considered music royalty today.
I had the opp. to see him last year out here at Cerritos Center of the Performing Arts last year and it was amazing hearing that voice from god and watching him play the guitar. Got choked up when he played 2 of my fav. songs of his... Spanish song "Usted" and English song "The Windmills of Your Mind" those 2 songs hit a spot and with the alcohol running forget it...
This man can cover ANY genre possible... Country, Bolero, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Contemporary, Cumbia, Bachata, Mambo, Cumbia. I can be here all night...
I leave you with a few of my fav. songs he did. Enjoy!
I never thought anyone could ever do it better then George but Feliciano just might have done it here... I mean I love the original version but my god does Feliciano just makes it a new song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYN1ptskOa8
Just listen to this shit man, I mean really did you ever think it was possible? Listen to the notes he adds, listen to Spanish he throws in there and listen to how he changes lyrics a bit.
If that wasn't enough listen to the end of the song the very end what he does... Fucken brilliant man, shit like that is born with you can't think that up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKIrqC2QUvg
The great Jimi Hendrix was huge fan of Feliciano and in 1967 while in London Jimi went to see Feliciano at a gig and performed on stage with him... For the most part not a lot of people have seen Feliciano jam on electric but here he is in Vienna 1987... Just listen to this man, just listen to it. As usual towards the end of the song he breaks into other songs and just adds his own thing to it. Simply magnificent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGgTlZhMSWI
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Originally Posted by Scrap
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