Newspaper contribution 3: Overcoming obstacles

José Feliciano

Jose Monserrate Feliciano García (was born September 10, 1945 in Lares, Puerto Rico) is a singer of boleros and ballads, and a leading interpreter of the Spanish guitar

Background and Challenge:

His name is synonymous with an international presence that has influenced popular music for more than two generations. Has joined and played musical styles in a unique way. Jose Feliciano is the first Latin artist to enter the American English music market, opening doors to other artists who now represent an important part in the American music industry.

One of eleven children, Jose was born sightless, but this did not create any obstacle that gets into what would become his passion: music.

His history with music began at the age of three years, touching the bottom of a tin of cookies, while accompanying his uncle who played “el cuatro”. At age five, his family emigrated to New York City. He learned to play “la concertina” at age six using a disk group as a teacher. In the eight years he appeared before his fellow students at 57 public schools and the nine years he appeared on stage, Puerto Rican Theater in the Bronx in New York. His interest in music led him to learn to play guitar and using the same way his records as a teacher and stronger determination, practicing sometimes up to fourteen hours a day. Exposed to the music of the fifties was inspired to sing.

At 17, Jose left school because his father was unemployed and he wanted to bring aid to his family. Jose played in Greenwich Village cafes to receive as salary what was customary in those days - passing the hat. In the same year, he had his first professional engagement in Detroit, Michigan. Shortly thereafter, a renowned music critic wrote of his participation in Gerde's Folk City, referring to Jose as "a magician of ten fingers which plays, run, wheel, tap and reverberates his six strings in an incomparable manner ..." And he added: "If you want to witness the birth of a star come on at Mr. Feliciano before he leaves tomorrow night."

Outcome:

Versatility would be the word that would describe Jose Feliciano. Besides playing the guitar beautifully with its unique style, plays 17 instruments: bass, banjo, organ, twelve-string guitar, mandolin, harmonica, piano, harpsidordio, accordion and among others, some South American instruments such as conga, the “el güiro dolro “o, timbales, timbalines, the Brazilian quique, kazoo, etc. Also sings in six languages. By unifying their youthful voice, rhythm-blues Jazz-Soul of his guitar and Latin-inspired, have an undeniable phenomenon, seller of millions of records and winning great awards.

Four decades support the work of the Puerto Rican singer Jose Feliciano has developed around the world, who gave new impetus to Latin music in 1996 to give effect to the bolero was beginning to wane. And most importantly, considered one of the greatest songwriters of recent times, with his disability against, has achieved a place as a music legend of our continent.

As a curiosity in various interviews John Lennon came to declare that the versions that Feliciano made to Beatles songs like "Help", "In My Life" and "A Day In The Life" were his favorites, a fact which is not very funny known is that on the album Rock N 'Roll by John Lennon is Jose Feliciano precisely speaking on three songs playing guitar.

Life lesson:

Clearly he is an exceptional person who has shown that sometimes the obstacles are there just to make our greatest legend. For example the music we like, sometimes we do not dare to sing or learn to play a musical instrument by the famous "shame", but Mr. Feliciano is an example of how you can overcome the human being and even more reach world-renowned success.