Jose Feliciano

José Feliciano is a Puerto Rican musician, singer, and composer best known for his international hits, including “Feliz Navidad,” a Christmas song, and a cover of The Doors’ “Light My Fire.” Feliciano gained national acclaim in the 1960s after the release of his album “Feliciano!” and was known for his use of a fusion of styles made primarily with his distinct, distinctive acoustic guitar sound.

Feliciano has gone a long way since his first professional contract performance at The Retort, a coffee restaurant, to become one of the most well-known artists of all time.

Jose was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1987 for his work as a recording engineer at 6541 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. Feliciano recently recorded a new “Feliz Navidad” with Lin-Manuel Miranda for the song’s 50th anniversary in November 2020.

José Feliciano’s Net Worth:

Jose Feliciano professional career as a guitarist, singer, and composer has earned him a sizable fortune. Feliciano has amassed a large wealth worth millions of dollars from his numerous albums, concerts, tours, and endorsement deals, among other things, after working in this industry for almost 50 years. His current estimated net worth is around $15 million, based on the revenue from his various songs, albums, and collaborations with various artists.

Where was José Feliciano Born?

jose feliciano
Jose Feliciano and his wife Susan Omillian.
Source: @aceshowbiz

José Feliciano was born in Lares, Puerto Rico, on September 10, 1945, and he was raised there until he was 18. José Monserrate Feliciano Garca is his real name, but he goes by his first name, too. In this case, he is Puerto Rican. Feliciano is white, and his zodiac sign is Virgo, so he is from a white family.

He was born blind because he had congenital glaucoma. He was the fourth of 11 boys to his parents. Felix’s family moved to Spanish Harlem, New York City, when he was five years old and he began to sing professionally. A tin can cracker can was his first instrument, and at the age of three, when he was still very young.

It was at the Teatro Puerto Rico in the Bronx when he made his first public appearance when he was nine years old. At the age of seven, he learned how to play the accordion on his own. At the age of nine, he bought his first guitar, too. Feliciano even took classical guitar lessons from Harold Morris at New York City’s Light House School for the Blind, where he worked with the blind.

Feliciano dropped out of high school at the age of 17 because his family was having money problems. He started walking around Greenwich Village and singing in coffee shops, and he ended up getting his first paid job at “The Retort.”

At Gerde’s Folk City in the Village in 1963, he was found and signed by an RCA Victor employee named Jack Somer.

José Feliciano’s Career Highlights:

  • In 1964, José Feliciano released his first song, “Everybody Do the Click.”
  • ‘The Voice and Guitar of Jose Feliciano’ and ‘A Bag Full of Soul’
  • After various projects and shows, Feliciano began working on “Feliciano!” with Rick Jarrard. The album was a smash hit in 1968, reaching #2 on the charts.
  • “Light My Fire” by the Doors was published in 1968, and it became a worldwide #1 smash, earning him two Grammy Awards for Best New Artist and Best Pop Male Performance.
  • ‘World Series’ was published as a song and charted for 5 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.
  • Jose released two albums in 1969: “10 to 23” and “Alive Alive-O!” on the London Palladium.
  • In 1970, Feliciano released “Jose Feliciano”, a Christmas album. It includes “Feliz Navidad,” one of the top 25 most-played Christmas songs ever.
  • His 1970s comedy series “Chico and the Man” theme song featured him.
  • In 1975, RCA released “Just Wanna Rock’n’Roll”, a jazz-funk-Latin instrumental tune.
  • “Escenas Amor”, “Me Enamora”, “Escenas de Amor” and “Me Enamoré” were all released in the 1980s.
  • 1987 Feliciano performed with the Berliner Sinfonie-Orchester in Leipzig and East Berlin.
  • During the 1990s, he co-hosted Speaking of Music on live radio.
  • In 1996, he appeared as a lounge singer in Fargo.
  • “José Feliciano y Amigos” was released in Spain on December 6, 2006.
  • In 2007, Feliciano released “Soundtrax of My Life”, his first English-language album.
  • Jose won his 8th Grammy for “Seor Bolero” in 2009.
  • In November 2017, Feliciano launched a new Jazz and R&B album with Jools Holland.
  • In 2019, Feliciano and longtime producer Rick Jarrard collaborated on “Behind This Guitar” for Anthem Records.

Jose Feliciano Awards and Honors:

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Jose Feliciano was also awarded the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.
Source: @zimbio
  • Awarded with 8 Grammy Awards
  • Received the El Premio Billboard.
  • Awarded the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.
  • Inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame.
  • Inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013.
  • Received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on December 1, 1987.
  • He Received a star on the Walk of Fame of his native Puerto Rico.
  • Received the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

José Feliciano’s Wife:

José Feliciano is a man who has been married before. She was his first wife, and they married on October 19, 1965. Their marriage, on the other hand, was short-lived. They split up on January 15, 1979, after 14 years of marriage.

During the summer of 1971, Feliciano met Susan Omillian. She was an art student in Detroit, Michigan, at the time. Feliciano married Perez in October of that year. The two were together for more than 11 years before they married on August 2, 1982.

Feliciano and Omillian had three children during their 39-year marriage: Melissa, a daughter, and Jonathan and Michael, two sons. They were all born during their marriage. They have just moved to New England.

José Feliciano’s Height:

José Feliciano is a gorgeous man in his mid-70s with a well-kept, healthy figure. With a height of 5ft. 5inches, he is rather tall. (1.65m), with a body weight of 65kg. While he is blind, he has a fair complexion and black hair.

Quick Facts About Jose Feliciano

Celebrated NameJose Feliciano
Age75 Years
Nick NameJose
Birth NameJose Monserrate Feliciano Garcia
Birth Date1945-09-10
GenderMale
ProfessionMusician
Birth NationPuerto Rico
Place Of BirthLares, Puerto Rico
NationalityPuerto Rican
EthnicityWhite
HoroscopeVirgo
Brothers10
Sexual OrientationStraight
Marital StatusMarried
WifeSusan Omillian
Married DateAugust 2, 1982.
Children3
DaughterMelissa
SonJonathan and Michael
Net Worth$15 million
Height5ft 5 inches(1.65m)
Hair ColorBlack