Jose & Gail

Did I ever dream to meet the man? All those years listening to him sing. Oh, that voice . . .

When Jose Feliciano sings, he reaches the heart. Mine sings at his sounds.

Last Monday, Tom and I heard him sing at the BB King Club in NYC. Hearing this voice live was a treasure and meeting him and his family, what a treat.

Everyone loves his Feliz Navidad, you should have heard the standing ovation at the club. Have you ever wanted to know about him?

Born in 1945 in Puerto Rico, moved to NY when he was five. Seems congenital glaucoma caused his blindness at birth. After first playing the accordion, his father gave him his first guitar. Watching him move his fingers and his method of finger picking, it was obvious to me that Andres Segovia inspired him. He played his guitar in his room for up to 14 hours a day, listening to rock, classical and jazz. Then he studied classical with Harold Morris, who had been a student of Segovia. Feliciano, in an 1969 interview, he mentioned Ray Charles, who was an influence on his singing.

With this Wikipedia link, you can read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Feliciano

Each year, during the Christmas season, “Feliz Navidad” returns to the airwaves as one of the most-played and most-downloaded songs of the season. “Feliz Navidad” is also recognized by ASCAP as one of the 25 all-time most-played Christmas songs in the world. It is in the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Link to Feliz Navidad: http://bit.ly/2hx9RuK 

Tom and I, guests of Jose Feliciano and his family, got to see him, hear him, shake his hand, and take pictures with him. I love Jose Feliciano’s music.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL MY FRIENDS, FAMILY AND COLLEAGUES . . .

Tom, Jose, Gail