Recognized for chart-topping hits like “Feliz Navidad” and his rendition of “Gentle My Hearth,” award-winning Puerto Rican artist José Feliciano is being honored for his prolific profession with the primary Billboard Legend Award.
The brand new award was created to honor artists like Feliciano for his or her fruitful careers and their contributions, which have transcended the trade.
Feliciano’s profession has spanned 60 years and has earned him greater than 45 Gold and Platinum information. The 77-year-old composer and singer additionally has obtained 19 Grammy nominations, together with 9 Grammy Awards and the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Feliciano is considered the primary Latin artist to efficiently cross over into the English music market, opening the doorways for different Latin artists to step into the American music trade.
With over 600 songs and greater than 60 albums launched, his distinctive fashion, virtuoso guitar performances and unmistakable voice have earned him a world presence. His music has transited by means of completely different genres, together with pop, mariachi, ballad, bachata, bolero, rock, soul and jazz.
His interpretation of the Christmas track “Feliz Navidad” has endured by means of generations and was considered one of many 25 best vacation songs of the twentieth century by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. His rendition of “Gentle My Hearth” topped world charts in 1968 and “Che Sara” additionally turned an enormous success all through Europe, Asia and South America. Different hits embrace “Rain,” “Chico and the Man” and “California Dreamin’,” amongst others.
Feliciano can be broadly identified to be the primary artist to stylize “The Star-Spangled Banner.” His rendition of the anthem got here throughout the fifth sport of the World Sequence between the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals in 1968, opening the doorways for brand spanking new generations of stylization of the anthem since.
Feliciano was born blind in Lares, Puerto Rico, in 1945. He first gained curiosity in music at age 3, when he accompanied his uncle musically by tapping on a tin cracker can. His household moved to New York Metropolis when he was 5. He later taught himself to play guitar and was impressed to sing by the rock ‘n’ roll of the ’50s.
At 17, Feliciano give up college to assist his household financially taking part in in espresso homes in Greenwich Village, and later throughout golf equipment and cafes in Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago and Denver. An govt from Radio Company of America on the time noticed one among his performances and signed him. His first couple of singles, “Poquita Fe” and “Usted,” had been prompt hits.
By 23, Feliciano had earned 5 Grammy nominations, successful two for his album “Feliciano!” and was identified for his distinctive acoustic guitar fashion and vocals all all through South and Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean.
A critically acclaimed documentary chronicling his profession, “José Feliciano — Behind This Guitar,” will probably be launched on Sept. 29 on Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service. The movie was govt produced by Emilio and Gloria Estefan, Carlos Santana and Rudy Pérez.
Feliciano will probably be honored with the Billboard Legend Award throughout the 2022 Billboard Latin Music Awards on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. EST, which will probably be aired by Telemundo.
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