By Fernie Ruano Jr.
It’s officially the holiday season and that means no matter where you go there’s a chance you’re going to hear the blistering guitar riffs and soulful voice of Jose Feliciano wishing you “Feliz Navidad”.
Your 6-year-old daughter, and in-the-the sprit husband, too, probably start singing the infectious, cheerful lyrics of “I want to wish you a Merry Christmas/I want to wish you a Merry Christmas/From the bottom of my heart” every time the family has visited your favorite mall in recently , even if both of them in all likelihood don’t know anything about the Puerto Rican-born Feliciano, 69, beyond associating him with “Feliz Navidad”, a title track originally recorded by Feliciano in 1970.
A staple in most households on Christmas Eve, especially those with lechon, arroz blanco y frijoles negros spread out on the dinner table, “Feliz Navidad” will forever serve as your generation’s holiday anthem; Your sister’s and your nephew’s too. If it’s Christmas and you’re celebrating it, Feliciano’s pain-inflicted voice and assault on the nylon strings are guaranteed to be fill the air of your festive atmosphere.
For many of us, whether you’re born to Cuban or Puerto Rican parents, or both, the timeless classic, one which will be played relentlessly at Christmas time for generations to come, signifies closure of another year gone by, while amplifying the significance of cherishing time with loved ones. It’s also cast an unjust, though understandable; tag on Feliciano, an international star that has influenced popular music for two generations and in two languages, no less.
Put aside being the first Latin to score a crossover into the mainstream market; Feliciano long ago introduced the world to a rambunctious way, yet technically sound, of handling an acoustic guitar, thanks to the speed of his right hand, creative improvisations and extended riffs; he picks and pulls at the nylon strings in a way he would make you fall in love, if you haven’t already done so to his music.
Feliciano’s emotion and tenderness in song is unique, if not unequaled, namely in classic Spanish ballads like “Cuando Pienso En Ti”, “La Copa Rota” and “Que Sera”. Frankly, the list of classics is way too long. “The kid from Lares” was born blind to humble beginnings, but that didn’t start him from taking his guitar at 17 and making the rounds at coffee shops all over Greenwich Village, Connecticut in hopes of helping his family. He played in bars and clubs, too, before branching out.
That’s why Jose Feliciano is a treasured talent and music icon that will forever have a secure place in popular music history, no matter how many times you hear “Feliz Navidad”.
Jose Feliciano performs Saturday, December 13 at 8 p.m. at Hialeah Park (www.hialeahparkcasino.com)
Do you want to know more about this 305-reeking, beach-bumming, Cuban food-obsessed dude? Well, then.. You can connect with Fernie @wordbyfernie (Twitter) and Fernie Ruano (Facebook). Who knows? If he really likes you, he might even give you his email.
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