Poway OnStage Welcomes José Feliciano 2/18

José Feliciano brings a storied musical career to Poway Onstage February 18, 2017. A multiple Grammy winner, with 45 gold and platinum albums to his name, recipient of Billboard's lifetime achievement award, as well as Guitar Player Magazine's "Best Pop Guitarist." He spans multiple genres including Latin pop, Flamenco, Jazz, Folk, known for songs including "Rain," "Chico and the Man," "California Dreamin'," "Destiny," "Affirmation," 'The Sound of Vienna," "Ay Cariño," "Ponte A Cantar," "Cuando El Amor Se Acaba," "Porque Te Tengo Que Olvidar?" Feliciano's contributions to the music industry span generations and continents, and emphasize cultural diversity, acceptance, and musical integrity.

José Feliciano was born blind at birth to a humble Puerto Rican family. He immigrated to the United States with his parents and 11 siblings when he was 5. By the age of six, Feliciano taught himself music simply by listening to records and practicing. In his early teens, Feliciano discovered his instrument of choice: the acoustic guitar. Later in his career, Feliciano would master the bass, banjo, mandolin, and various keyboard instruments.

Feliciano is recognized as the first Latin artist to cross over into the English music market. In his first years with RCA, Feliciano's producers focused on his Puerto Rican background and marketed most of his albums to Latin American audiences. In 1968 RCA began marketing Feliciano to English-speaking audiences in England and America when he released his version of the Doors' 1967 hit, "Light My Fire." His reworking of the classic tune peaked at number three on the U.S. pop music charts. It sold more than a million records. Feliciano received two Grammy Awards for "Light My Fire," one for best new artist of 1968 and one for best contemporary pop vocal performance. Feliciano!, the 1968 album that featured "Light My Fire," was just as successful, earning the guitarist his first gold album.

Although that release was largely composed of songs written and previously recorded by other musicians, Feliciano established himself as an important artist by redefining the music that he recorded. Both the Latin influence in his style and his talents with the acoustic guitar greatly altered the quality of songs like "Light My Fire. " Another defining music hit for Feliciano was "Feliz Navidad," the Christmas song that is now a tradition worldwide during the holiday season. Feliz Navidad has become a top iTunes download and ASCAP has placed it among the 25 Greatest Holiday Songs of the Century. "Che' Sara" was a third mega-hit and blockbuster success in Europe, Asia, and South America.

As Feliciano told Melody Maker's Alan Walsh, "I'm just a musician. ... not a pop musician or a jazz musician; just a musician. I play guitar but I also regard my voice as an instrument. I don't really like to be placed into a compartment and type-cast because I'd like to work on all levels of music."