Tonight At The Hard Rock…

Tonight at the Hard Rock Café in Hollywood, Florida, a brand new song from Jose Feliciano will underscore the entrance of MMA Champion, Jessica “Jag” Aguilar.

Mixed Martial Arts is quickly becoming one of the most popular sports in the world and Jessica Aguilar is one of its brightest stars. Jose will be in attendance ringside to support his friend and to enjoy an evening of fun and excitement at this M.M.A. Bellator Championship Event.

Over 93 million viewers will see the World Championship Tournament that takes place this evening on the FOX Sports Network as well as on the Telemundo Network. So when Jessica is introduced and walks from her locker room to the cage, she will be moving to one of Jose’s new songs featured on his latest release, “The Genius of Jose Feliciano- Volume 2”!

“It’s The Music,” is one of 12 previously unreleased tracks produced by our own Bob Conti. More news on Jose’s newest CD, “The Genius of Jose Feliciano - Volume 2,” will be coming your way in the very near future!

• Posted by josenews at 19:48:06 in Archives

Faithful Fans…

Over the years, Jose, like most artists of his caliber, has been blessed with a network of faithful followers who share with one another their “Jose-Sightings and Experiences” with each other and occasionally with the world at large. One such fan is an English lady named Janet Handley who has painstakingly maintained a fan-based website for many years. Her “Fiesta Feliciano” has been one such location where Feliciano Followers throughout Europe have continued to gather sharing tidbits regarding Jose.

At the moment, Janet’s personal life has become bigger than she, so to speak, so for the time being she has requested that these little morsels regarding Jose be forwarded to us personally for publication online.

That being said, another great follower, Marie-Rose from Germany, had sent Janet the following letter to share with other Feliciano Devotees, but again, for the time being anyway has asked that we share her experience of Jose’s recent concert in Germany with all of you.

“Hello Janet,
This is a little review of the concert of José, the 13 July in Rietberg Germany.

After a morning of hard work I went home, to have a bite to eat….take a shower and then off with the car to Rietberg in Germany, where Me and Gerard went to see José in the evening concert. About 243 Km to go!!!!!

We had really nice weather and left around 14.00 PM, so around the clock of 17.00 PM we were at the place where everything should happen.

First we went to eat something and then, of we go to Cultura Sparkasse an der Ems.
We parked our car and could already hear some tunes in the park who sound like José Feliciano.
We went at the backside, and saw a door open, so I said to Gerard I have a look, and wow, I saw some of the guy’s from the Band and Jose’s Personal Manager.

So we went to say hello to everybody inclusive to José as well.
Then later on around 19.30, we went inside to take our places.
Around 20.00, the concert started.

Here are a great deal of the songs. José started the show with:

“Ain’t No Sunshine”
“Believe Me When I Tell You” (one of my favorites).
“I’m back….” (Jose’s rendition in honor to Michael Jackson)
“Quando el Amor Se Acaba”
“Bamboleo”
“Lay Down Sally”
“I Feel So Lonely”
“Oye Como Va”
“Aranjuez”
“Ill Mio Canto Libere” (this is a song that I love……Enormously. It’s the first time I saw josé performing it!)
“Que Sara”
“Light My Fire”
“Feliz Navidad”

José was saying that his Christmas album from that time was the best he ever made together with the record company. He also said that it was sad that today the record companies are not what they used to be (and I completely agree with him, as well the audience felt the same).

And Feliz Navidad was also the end of the show, well that’s what José thought but the audience wanted him back for more, they where clapping in their hands, stamping on the wooden floor and shouting “ZUGABE” which means more or less “WE WANT MORE!”
Well, José wouldn’t be José , If he didn’t came back. And he give us another one of my favorites:
“The First Time I Saw Your Face.”

Wow what a night, afterwards we went backstage to say “Hello” again to José and the Band.

Me and Gerard, we would like to say to everybody, the Band….his Personal Manager…..and the Crew….who gave us and many other people a great evening with lots of good music y amistad.
Muchas gracias a todos.

Con amor.
Marie-rose & Gerard”

Jose and I thank all of you who continue to support him and his musical experiences around the world. You, his Faithful Fans, are priceless. May God continue to bless you abundantly!

• Posted by josenews at 09:00:12 in Archives

Jose Heads to Europe!

Feliciano’s 2010 Summer European Tour starts off in Italy with a RAI television appearance and then on to our beloved Austria with more concerts to follow in Germany.

Check the calendar page for more details.

Godspeed, Jose! Ciao Bello!

• Posted by josenews at 18:57:54 in Archives

A Memorial Day Remembrance

This weekend, while we are enjoying the ‘official start of the summer season’ with our road trips, BBQ’s and a day at the beach, let’s stop and recall the real reason for the holiday: Memorial Day was first observed in the United States on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed at the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers. On this day we honor all who have died in service of our nation.

Take a Moment to Reflect and Pray: To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the “National Moment of Remembrance” resolution was passed in December 2000 asking all Americans at 3 p.m. local time “to voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to ‘Taps.’”

Dear God our Father,

Dear God, please bless our heroes and heroines with Your mercy, grace, and peace. Bless also their families and friends. May Your perpetual light shine upon them; and may their souls and the souls of all our faithful departed rest in peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

• Posted by josenews at 08:22:26 in Archives

Feliciano to Sing at Harwell Tribute

Jose Feliciano to sing at tribute-
BY GENE MYERS 
FREE PRESS SPORTS EDITOR

Before Jimi Hendrix, Marvin Gaye, Whitney Houston and even Roseanne Barr, there were Ernie Harwell and Jose Feliciano.

And how during the 1968 World Series a 50-year-old sweet-voiced southern broadcaster and a 23-year-old blind Puerto Rican musician changed American sports forever will be one of the storylines when the Tigers honor Harwell on Monday night at Comerica Park.

As a tribute to their legendary broadcaster, who died last Tuesday at 92, the Tigers have an elaborate pregame ceremony planned at 6:45 p.m. before playing the Yankees.

They will raise a white flag in centerfield with Harwell’s initials. Former radio partners will handle the ceremonial first pitch — Ray Lane delivering the ball, Paul Carey throwing it. And Feliciano will sing the National Anthem, something he hasn’t done in Detroit in 42 years.

On Oct. 7, 1968, before Game 5 against the Cardinals at Tiger Stadium, using only his voice and his acoustic guitar, Feliciano delivered a soulful rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” No one had strayed from a straight-laced anthem interpretation, let alone on national television.

An uproar ensued across the country. Harwell, who had selected Feliciano for the assignment, had to defend his singer and his patriotism. He feared for his job. As a result, Harwell and Feliciano became lifelong friends.

A few years later, Harwell introduced Feliciano to Susan Omillian, a Detroiter, who, as a 14-year-old at the time, was angered by Feliciano’s treatment. They later married and had three children.

In a 2003 interview with the Free Press, Harwell said: “People called me all sorts of names, saying I was a Communist.” And Feliciano said: “Some people wanted me deported — as if you can be deported to Puerto Rico.”

Last fall, after Harwell revealed he had terminal cancer, he talked about the events before and after the anthem that changed all anthems in a lengthy interview with the Free Press, to be his last extensive session with local media. The highlights:

“I got into a little controversy because (general manager) Jim Campbell knew I was a tyro songwriter and he appointed me to select the singers for the national anthem for the three games in Detroit.

“The first game I picked Margaret Whiting, whose uncle and dad were great songwriters and they were from Michigan and she had kinfolks in Birmingham. She was a great nightclub singer and recording artist. She did a fine job.

“And then the second person I picked was Marvin Gaye of Motown. And strangely enough, the Tigers asked me to talk to Marvin and say, ‘Marvin, we’d appreciate it if you would sing it as straight as you can and not have too much Motown influence in your rendition.’ So he sang it straight.

“And then the third fellow that I picked was Jose Feliciano, a young Puerto Rican who had been coming up. He’d had one hit on the charts; he’d covered Morrison’s ‘Light My Fire.’ It was a very popular song and I had a friend in the record business in Hollywood that said, ‘I saw this guy at the Greek Theater in Hollywood and he did a sensational National Anthem. He should be the guy you pick.’

“Well, we tried a couple of guys — Eddie Arnold and a few people like that. They couldn’t make it. Jose accepted and he was doing a show every night in Las Vegas. He took the red eye, came into Detroit, sang the National Anthem.

“He did a sort of soulful rendition; it would be very mild if you heard it now. But at that point people thought it was a sacrilege to the flag and to the country and everything else. The American Legion rose up in arms and passed all kinds of resolutions and everybody got mad. The front page of the New York Times had a picture of him, which was very unusual at that point. There were all kinds of protests.

“A lot of people, including me, thought I might lose my job because of that. There was so much anger about it.

“Sure enough, everything worked out, and Jose and I are still big buddies and I introduced him to his new wife, Miss Omillian. They’re still married and they’ve got kids and they’re very happy.”

Harwell then added a postscript:

“When I got sick, I got a beautiful bouquet from Susan and Jose and the kids. I really appreciated that, too. We keep up with them. They send us a Christmas card every year. We’re good friends.”

And they will be linked again Monday night, at twilight’s last gleaming.

• Posted by josenews at 17:22:57 in Archives