José Feliciano
International recording star José Feliciano has been a resident of Connecticut since 1990. He currently resides in Weston, Connecticut.
Feliciano’s achievements include forty-five Gold/Platinum records, nineteen Grammy nominations and nine Grammys. His rendition of “Light My Fire” reached no. 3 in the United States (and no. 1 in Canada and the United Kingdom). The song was a major hit on Connecticut radio stations. Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad” has become a holiday classic. During the time he has been a Connecticut resident, Feliciano has recorded over twenty singles and albums in English and Spanish. José has been an integral part of the Connecticut music scene for many years.
Blind since birth, José Feliciano has been an inspiration for so many people around the world. Feliciano has performed in various Connecticut music venues including: Hartford’s Bushnell Memorial (April 30, 1969), Wallingford’s Oakdale Theatre (July 1–5, 1969), Uncasville’s Mohegan Sun Arena (May 21, 1998), Jorgensen Auditorium UCONN Storrs, Connecticut (February 14-15, 2003), and Hartford’s Xfinity Hall (December 15, 2012).
On January 16, 2014, José Feliciano was one of ten famous Connecticut musicians honored by the Fairfield Museum and History Center at an event referred to as Fairfield’s Rockin’ Top 10. In a Connecticut Post article by Scott Gargan on March 27, 2014, Feliciano was asked how it felt to be celebrated as one of the region’s most influential musicians (i.e., as one of Fairfield’s Rockin’ Top 10). José Feliciano responded, “It’s a wonderful thing. I never thought I’d be included. There’s so many great musicians in Connecticut. This state has a tremendous history.”
by Tony Renzoni (author of Connecticut Rock ‘n’ Roll: A History ©)
NOTE: This write-up is Copyrighted and taken from Tony Renzoni’s book “Connecticut Rock ‘n’ Roll: A History”.
For book info, check: https://www.
