[Link]

org/wiki/Cheo_Feliciano

Musical career and singing debut[edit]

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 Rodrguez, heard Feliciano play and offered him a job in his orchestra.
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
percussion for Kako y su Trabuco orchestra. He was also a roadie for Mon Rivera.[2][3][4]
In 1955, Rodrguez 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.[2][3][4]
On October 5, 1957, Feliciano made his professional singing debut with the Joe Cuba Sextet,
singing the song "Perfidia". He remained with the sextet for 10 years. In 1967, he joined the Eddie
Palmieri Orchestra and sang for them for two years. However, at the same time he began using
drugs at 21 years old.[5]His increasing addiction led him to heroin, which in turn threatened his life
and career. He decided to quit drugs "cold turkey" and eventually joined 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 was a vehement anti-drug
spokesperson, who volunteered to assist in the rehabilitation of fellow salsa artists who fell prey to
drug addiction.[2][3][4]

Return to music[edit]
In 1971, Feliciano came back to music with the album Cheo, his first solo recording. The album,
which featured compositions by Feliciano's friend Tite Curet, broke all sales records in the Latino
music market. The album included:

"Anacaona" and

"Mi Triste Problema"

During the 1970s, Feliciano recorded fifteen albums for Fania Record Co. and had hits with "Amada
Mia" and "Juan Albail". He also recorded one of his first albums bolero music titled La Voz Sensual
de Cheo. The album was recorded in Argentina, with a band directed by Jorge Calandrelli. Feliciano
also participated in the first salsa opera Hommy.
In 1982, Feliciano started his own recording company called "Coche Records". In 1984, he was
honored by artists like Rubn Blades and Joe Cuba in a concert entitled Tribute to Cheo Feliciano.
The next year, 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.[2][3][4] Feliciano also became a hit in Spain, and was a regular in the Tenerife
Carnival. He also sang in the 1992 Universal Exposition in Seville.[6]
In 1990, Feliciano recorded another album of bolero music, titled Los Feelings de Cheo. He also
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 Combinacin Perfecta.[2][3][4]
In 2000, Feliciano recorded Una Voz, Mil Recuerdos as a tribute to various Puerto Rican singers.
The album was listed 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 a collaboration album titled Eba Say Aja where both artists performed
each other's previously recorded songs. In the same year, Feliciano became part of Sergio George's
group called Salsa Giants whom he was touring with at the time of his death. [7] Feliciano was very
active and continued traveling and performing all over the world until his last day.[2][3][4]

Personal life[edit]

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4/19/2014

Salsa Legend: Cheo Feliciano

1 COMMENT

The life of one the Salsa Greatest - Cheo Feliciano...

Picture

Picture

Jos 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.

Musical career and singing debut. 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 Rodrguez, heard Feliciano play and offered him a job in his
orchestra. 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 percussion for Kako y su Trabuco orchestra. He was
also a roadie for Mon Rivera.

In 1955, Rodrguez 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.
On October 5, 1957, Feliciano made his professional singing debut with the Joe Cuba
Sextet, singing the song "Perfidia". He remained with the sextet for 10 years. In
1967, he joined the Eddie Palmieri Orchestra and sang for them for two years.
However, at the same time he began using drugs at 21 years old. His increasing
addiction led him to heroin, which in turn threatened his life and career. He decided
to quit drugs "cold turkey" and eventually joined 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 was a
vehement anti-drug spokesperson, who volunteered to assist in the rehabilitation of
fellow salsa artists who fell prey to drug addiction.

Return to music. In 1972, Feliciano came back to music with the album Cheo, his
first solo recording. The album, which featured compositions by Feliciano's friend
Tite Curet, broke all sales records in the Latino music market. The album included:

"Anacaona" and

"Mi Triste Problema"

During the 1970s, Feliciano recorded fifteen albums for Fania Record Co. and had
hits with "Amada Mia" and "Juan Albail". He also recorded one of his first albums
bolero music titled La Voz Sensual de Cheo. The album was recorded in Argentina,
with a band directed by Jorge Calandrelli. Feliciano also participated in the first salsa
opera Hommy.

In 1982, Feliciano started his own recording company called "Coche Records". In
1984, he was honored by artists like Rubn Blades and Joe Cuba in a concert
entitled Tribute to Cheo Feliciano. The next year, 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. Feliciano also
became a hit in Spain, and was a regular in the Tenerife Carnival. He also sang in
the 1992 Universal Exposition in Seville.

In 1990, Feliciano recorded another album of bolero music, titled Los Feelings de
Cheo. He also 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 Combinacin Perfecta.
In 2000, Feliciano recorded Una Voz, Mil Recuerdos as a tribute to various Puerto
Rican singers. The album was listed 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 a
collaboration album titled Eba Say Aja where both artists performed each other's
previously recorded songs. In the same year, Feliciano became part of Sergio
George's group called Salsa Giants whom he was touring with at the time of his
death. Feliciano was very active and continued traveling and performing all over the
world until his last day.

Personal life. Feliciano met Socorro "Coc" Prieto Len in New York, when she was
15 years old. They married in October 5, 1958 and had four children together.
Feliciano dedicated his 1993 album, Motivos, to his wife.

Health. In June 2013, Feliciano confirmed that he was suffering from liver cancer and
was already undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Doctors discovered the illness
when they were treating him for a dislocated shoulder. Earlier this year, Feliciano
celebrated being "cancer-free".

Death. Cheo Feliciano died in the early hours of April 17, 2014 in a single car
accident on Highway 176 in the San Juans borough of Cupey, 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.

Influence. Through his career, Feliciano was recognized as a pioneer in the Salsa
genre, and many artists considered him an influence. Gilberto Santa Rosa, Ruben
Blades, Alex D'Castro, Jerry Rivas (of El Gran Combo) and his son Gerardo (of NG2)
are among some of the singers that mentioned Feliciano as an influence. Rivas
referred to him as "my inspiration", while Blades has admitted that he began his
career copying Feliciano's style and tone.

Cheo Feliciano
PUERTO RICAN SINGER
WRITTEN BY:
Karen Sparks
LAST UPDATED:
3-5-2015 See Article History
Originally published in the Britannica Book of the Year. Presented as archival content.

Cheo Feliciano
PUERTO RICAN SINGER
BORN

July 3, 1935

Ponce, Puerto Rico

DIEDHTTPS://[Link]/BIOGRAPHY/CHEO-FELICIANO

April 17, 2014

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Cheo Feliciano (Jos Luis Feliciano Vega), (born July 3, 1935, Ponce, P.R.
died April 17, 2014, San Juan, P.R.), Puerto Rican singer who was a
salsa legend who enjoyed a more-than-50-year career with such hit songs as
Anacaona, Amada mia, Una en un milln, Mi triste problema, and Juan
Albail. Prior to finding success as a singer, Feliciano performed as a
talented percussionist. He started his own band at the age of about eight,
fashioning the instruments from cans. After moving (1952) with his family
to New York City, he played in the bands of Tito Rodriguez and Luis Cruz
before performing (195765) as a vocalist for the Joe Cuba Sextet. Felicianos
first recording for the sextet was the classic Perfidia. His deep baritone was
a rarity among salsa singers, and he quickly gained a following among fans
who appreciated his quick wit and improvisational skills. A heroin addiction
derailed Felicianos career in the late 1960s, but he returned to Puerto Rico,
kicked the habit, and released his first solo album, Cheo (1972), which set
sales records for Latin music. He went on to record bolero music as well, and
in 2012 he collaborated with Panamanian singer Rubn Blades on the salsa
album Eba say aj. Feliciano was the recipient of a Latin Grammy Lifetime
Achievement Award in 2008. The singer, who was diagnosed with a treatable
cancer in 2013, died after crashing his Jaguar into a light pole. The governor
of Puerto Rico declared three days of national mourning.
 Karen Sparks
LEARN MORE in these related articles:

Rubn Blades
July 16, 1948 Panama City, Panama Panamanian musician, actor, and political activist who
was one of the most successful and influential salsa musicians of the late 20th and early
21st centuries.
READ MORE
EXTERNAL LINKS
AllMusic - Biography of Cheo Feliciano

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