Interview by Alfredo Flores
Prior to his performance on Tuesday at the White House, Jose Feliciano sat down with Examiner.com at the new W Washington D.C. hotel in downtown to chat about his career and his involvement with "In Performance at the White House: Fiesta Latina," with will air on live simulcast Tuesday on www.WhiteHouse.gov and re-air on PBS Stations (locally on WETA Channel 26) Thursday at 8p.
Here’s the Q& A
On previous experiences performing in D.C.
“It’s been great. I’ve played at just about every venue except the Cellar Door. I’ve played at Carter Baron, Wolf Trap, Showboat Lounge, and really excited to be performing at the White House.”
On his opinion on President Obama
“He’s doing great. He’s getting the heads of countries to talk to each other.”
On his career
“Things are going great. Recently got a couple of Grammys, but there’s always something as a musician I could always work at in my home studio. But, overall, no complaints.”
On what’s new in his life
“I’ll be presenting a new line of personalized guitars with nylon strings in November on QVC.”
On performing on the Rose Garden (comparing himself to a fellow Puerto Rican)
“I feel like Roberto Clemente at the All-Star Game. What a thrill!”
On music that he listens to on his Ipod
“Oh, I really like Gavin McGraw. And I think Fergie is really cool, real funky, and of course Shakira. I’d love to do a collaboration with Alicia Keys, she’s incredibly talented.”
On the success of his seminal hit “Feliz Navidad”
“It’s not a bad way to be remembered. I’m very thrilled that the song continues to be played, and thanked God for the opportunity to record it.”
Photo credit Alfredo Flores, at
Info courtesy of PBS and Rogers & Cowan
Fiesta Latina
"In Performance at the White House: Fiesta Latina" is a concert hosted by the President and Mrs. Obama on the South Lawn of the White House. The program celebrates Hispanic musical heritage and includes performances by Gloria Estefan, José Feliciano, George Lopez, the Bachata music group Aventura, and the Chicano rock band Los Lobos, with Sheila E. leading the house band. The sixty-minute program airs October 15, 2009 at 8 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide. (check local listings)
Watch a preview of "In Performance at the White House: Fiesta Latina." Check back on Tuesday, October 13, for the live webcast of the show.
The Latest News On JOSÉ FELICIANO
- José To Perform At The White House On October 13th
Hosted By PRESIDENT and MRS. OBAMA To Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, “In Performance at The White House: Fiesta Latina” Will Air Nationally As A PBS Music Special On October 15th and see José Feliciano Join With Performers Such As Marc Anthony, George Lopez, Jimmy Smits, Gloria Estefan and More
"My wife, Susan, and I are looking forward to visiting the White House again and I am really happy to have been asked to perform with some of my friends at the Fiesta Latina Party on the 13th of October. The United States is dubbed 'The Melting Pot,' and with the Latin culture being such an important part of that mix, I get a feeling that our National Residence is really going to be swinging on Tuesday night!" --Jose Feliciano
- José Is Once Again Nominated For A Latin Grammy Award.
Having WON both the GRAMMY and LATIN GRAMMY Awards last year for “Best Tropical Latin Album”, Feliciano continues to demonstrate his ability as a master of many styles and genres as his latest album Con México En El Corazón has received a LATIN GRAMY Nomination for Best Ranchero Album.
- Feliciano Pays Tribute To Classic Film “The Third Man”
José recently joined city officials in Vienna to unveil an Austrian postal stamp to celebrate the 60th anniversary of director Carol Reed’s classic film noir “The Third Man – starring Orson Wells. Feliciano journeyed into the famed Vienna sewer system that provided the film’s iconic imagery to also film a video for his new rendition of “The Third Man Theme” originated by Viennese zither player Anton Karas.
- José Has Introduced His New Personal Line Of Guitars With QVC
The World’s “Greatest Living Guitarist” is now putting his favorite instrument directly into the hands of fans and aspiring musicians with the introduction of the José Feliciano Debut Guitars through QVC. After years of design work to meet Jose’s stringent standards for fine tonality, these full-sized nylon string guitar packages are offered in either New Moon Ebony Black or Purely Natural Blonde, and come complete with an onboard jack to plug into the included 10-watt amplifier, a digital tuner, graphic equalizer, guitar strap, guitar picks, extra set of strings, polishing cloth and a solid-shell gig bag. José provides his personal musical with a chord chart suitable for framing, a Guitar Technique booklet with lessons from José and a DVD that features highlights of Feliciano’s music career, an in-studio interview, and instructional sessions with the multi-platinum star as he shows how to play both La Bamba and his signature holiday classic Feliz Navidad. http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.item.F05636.desc.Jose-Feliciano-Acoustic-Guitar-Debut-Series-Kitwith-DVD
- José Celebrated Our National Parks With PBS Performance in New York’s Central Park
In late September, Jose joined with fellow musicians such as Carole King, Alison Krauss, Gavin DeGraw and more for “Feel Free: A National Parks Celebration in Central Park”. Presented by PBS and the National Parks Conservation Association, the special event acted as a premiere for Ken Burns’ film “THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA’S BEST IDEA”
- Feliciano Live: Remembering Les Paul in New York and Upcoming Shows In Europe
September saw José Feliciano remembering and paying tribute to his dear friend Les Paul by fronting the Les Paul Trio for three Monday nights at New York’s Iridium Jazz Club. Now, Jose is set to return to the road with upcoming October concerts in Spain, Holland, Poland, The Czech Republic, and a special five-night appearance at the Jazz Café in London. To keep up with all of Jose’s activities and tour dates, visit www.josefeliciano.com
One of the world’s most renowned guitarists and songwriter, José Feliciano has over forty-five Gold and Platinum records to his credit, has filled concert halls across the globe for over four decades, and is widely considered the first Latin music performer to cross-over into mainstream culture. Feliciano is a member of Guitar Player magazine’s “Gallery of Greats” and a winner of Billboard’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He was likewise honored at the Kennedy Center with the Hispanic Heritage Lifetime Achievement award, and honored by the city of New York with the naming of The Jose Feliciano Performing Arts School. Most telling is that José has been recognized by vote of his musical peers with SEVEN GRAMMY Awards, the most recent bestowed just this year- showing that Feliciano continues to shine as one of the world’s leading musicians.
Comments
JOSE,YOUR INTERPRETATION OF THE SPANISH SONG DURING PRESIDENT'S OBAMAS FIESTA LATINA WAS JUST OUTSTANDING.CONGRATULATION. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU RECORD A NEW RECORD WITH INSTRUMENTAL
MUSIC ON GUITAR WITH SONGS AS THE ONE YOU PLAYED IN FIESTA LATTINA,GRANADA,AND OTHER FAMOUS SPANISH SONGS.SALUDOS BORICUA.
Jose Feliciano is the most uderated genius of our music world, not is only a latin star, he's much more, He's the first artist to blend american black soul, rock and pop music with latin influence, and also the most incredible guitarist of the world.
He deserve more accolade, not from the latin music where he's been a icon, but from the american and international music and newspaper where they has forget his dimension. He must stay at top of the international scene how was in 60s and 70s.
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