Cheo Feliciano

Cheo Feliciano
Birth name	José Luis Feliciano Vega
Born	(1935-07-03)July 3, 1935 Ponce, Puerto Rico
Died	April 17, 2014(2014-04-17) (aged 78) Cupey, Puerto Rico
Genres	Salsa, Bolero
Years active	1957-2014

José Luis Feliciano Vega, better known as Cheo Feliciano (July 3, 1935 – April 17, 2014) was a Puerto Rican composer and singer of salsa and bolero music.

Early years

Feliciano (birth name: José Luis Feliciano Vega ) was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, the second largest city in the island located in the southern part of Puerto Rico. There he was raised and educated. As a child, he was nicknamed "Cheo" by his family - a name which means José and is a term normally only used by close friends and family. However, the name stuck and became part of his everyday name (using the nickname avoids confusion with José Feliciano, another major Puerto Rican singer to whom he is not related). At a young age he was influenced by the bolero music of the Trio Los Panchos. When he was only eight years old he formed his first group with his friends and named it "El Combo Las Latas". They were so poor that their musical instruments were made out of cans. Feliciano attended the Free School of Music in Ponce after finishing his primary education where he studied and became a percussionist.

Musical career

In 1952, Feliciano moved with his family to New York City and settled down in Spanish Harlem. Here he auditioned as a percussionist in the "Ciro Rimac's Review" band - giving him his first professional musical job. Bandleader Tito Rodríguez, heard Feliciano play and offered him a job in his orchestra; this he accepted but after playing for some time with Tito, he left the band to play the conga for Luis Cruz. Despite leaving he always remained on friendly terms with Tito. Feliciano also played percussionist for Kako y su Trabuco orchestra. He was also a roadie for Mon Rivera.

In 1955, Rodríguez found out that Joe Cuba was in need of a singer for his sextet. Aware that Feliciano was also a talented singer, he recommended Cuba that he try out for the position. Feliciano auditioned and became a vocalist for the Joe Cuba Sextet. He was the rare baritone among salsa singers, and his deep voice and quick wit as an improviser made him a favorite among the Latino public.

Singing debut

On October 5, 1957, Feliciano made his professional singing debut with the song "Perfidia" (he was also married on that same day). He sang for the sextet for a total of 10 years. In 1967, he joined the Eddie Palmieri Orchestra and sang for them for two years. However, an increasing addiction to heroin threatened his life and career. He decided to cure himself "cold turkey" and eventually join Puerto Rico's rehabilitation center, Hogares CREA. Feliciano credits Tite Curet Alonso, the author of most of his hits and his best friend, with pushing him through his rehabilitation. As a result, he is a candid (and vehement) anti-drug spokesperson, who has volunteered to assist in the rehabilitation of fellow salsa artists who fall prey to drug addiction.

Return

In 1972, Feliciano came back to music and made album "Cheo", his first solo recording, which broke all sales records in the Latino music market. The album included:

• "Anacaona" and
• "Mi Triste Problema" (My Sad Problem).

During the 1970s, Feliciano recorded for the "Fania Record Co." and had "Hits" with "Amada Mia" (My Love) and "Juan Albañil". He also participated in the first salsa opera "Hommy".

In 1982, Feliciano formed his own recording company called "Coche Records" and in 1985 he became the first tropical singer to perform at the Amira de la Rosa Theater in Barranquilla, Colombia. In 1987, he landed the role of Roberto Clemente's father in the musical "Clemente".

In 1990, Feliciano recorded the album of bolero music, titled "Los "Feelings" de Cheo". This was 17 years after his bolero recordings of La Voz Sensual and Looking for Love, both recorded in Buenos Aires, Argentina and orchestrated and arranged by Maestro Jorge Calandreli. He has traveled all over Europe, Japan, Africa, and South America. In Venezuela, he had a reunion with Eddie Palmieri. In 1995, Feliciano won a Platinum Record Award for "La Combinación Perfecta" (The Perfect Combination).

In 2000, Feliciano recorded "Una Voz, Mil Recuerdos" (One Voice, A Thousand Memories) as a tribute to various Puerto Rican singers. The album was named among the 20 outstanding recordings of the year by the National Foundation of the Popular Culture of Puerto Rico. In 2002, he recorded "Cheo en la Intimidad". In 2012, Feliciano and Ruben Blades released an album titled Eba Say Aja where both artists performed each other's previously recorded songs. Feliciano was very active and continued traveling and performing all over the world until his last day.

Death

Cheo Feliciano died in the early hours of April 17th, 2014 in a single car accident on Highway 176 in Cupey, Puerto Rico, after losing control of his vehicle and hitting a light pole. His wife, Coco, told reporters that Feliciano did not like to wear a seat belt.

Recordings

During the years, he enjoyed successes with the following "hits",:

• "A las Seis" (1962),
• "El Pito" (1967)
• "Busca lo Tuyo" (1968), Eddie Palmieri
• "Anacaona" (1971)
• "Mi Triste Problema" (1971)
• "Salomé" (1973)
• "Nabori" (1973)
• "Mapeye" (1973)
• "El Ratón" (1974), Fania All Stars
• "Canta" (1976)
• "Los Entierros" (1979)
• "Amada Mía" (1980)
• "Juan Albañil" (1980)
• "Sobre Una Tumba Humilde" (1980)
• "Ritmo Alegre" (1981), Eddie Palmieri
• "Trizas" (1982)
• "Yo No Soy Un Ángel" (1991)
• "Mentiras" (1991)

Discography

Year	Albums
1971	Cheo
1972	La Voz Sensual de Cheo
1973	With a Little Help From My Friend
1973	Felicidades
1974	Looking For Love (Buscando Amor)
1976	The Singer
1977	Mi Tierra y Yo
1979	Estampas
1980	Sentimiento, Tú...
1982	Profundo
1985	Regresa el Amor
1987	Sabor y Sentimiento
1987	Te Regalo Mi Sabor Criollo
1988	Como Tú lo Pediste
1990	Los Feelings de Cheo
1991	Cantando
1993	Motivos
1996	Soñar
1996	Un Solo Beso
1997	El Eterno Enamorado
1998	Pinceladas Navideñas
1999	Una Voz... Mil Recuerdos
2002	En la Intimidad
2012	Eba Say Aja (with Ruben Blades)

Awards and recognitions

Over the years, Cheo Feliciano has received the following recognitions:

• 1975-The Golden Cup-Venezuela,
• 1976-"Most Popular Artist" by Latin New York magazine,
• 1977-Daily News Front Page Award "Best Latin Vocalist",
• 1985-Owl of Gols-Panama, The Silver Chin Award-Miami, A Golden Agueybana Award-Puerto Rico,
• 1983 & 1984-Honorable Son of Ponce,
• 1999-A tribute in his honor from the Puerto Rican Senate.
• 2008- In honor of 50 years in the music industry, Michael Bloomberg (Mayor of New York at the time) declared June 20 Cheo Feliciano Day in New York City.
• 2008-Grammy for Excellence in Music at the Latin Grammy Awards.
• In Ponce, he is recognized at the Park for the Illustrious Ponce Citizens.

Recent years

Cheo Feliciano lived his last years in Puerto Rico where he had continued recording boleros. He was also the anti-drug spokesperson for the Government of Puerto Rico.

Further reading

• "Salsa Talks: A Musical Heritage Uncovered"; by: Mary Kent; Chapter 9, pp. 92–103 Cheo Feliciano; Publisher: Digital Domain; ISBN 0976499002; ISBN 978-0976499008

See also

• List of famous Puerto Ricans
• Black history in Puerto Rico