José “Cheo” Feliciano (1935 – 2014)

José “Cheo” Feliciano (1935 – 2014)

José “Cheo” Feliciano was a singer and performer who connected with his audience in the most natural way. Cheo, through his stage presence, as well as off stage, transcended an essence that touches our most inner sensitivities, and reaches toward our human spirit and soul in a way that expresses our best qualities of humility, honesty, sincerity, love and romance, love for people and love for community. When “Cheo” would sing those wonderful ballads you felt so connected because he was expressing those deep felt- emotions that were difficult to even find the words to describe.

Besides being a “Bolerista”, or ballad singer, Cheo held the distinction of being acknowledged and recognized as one of the best Soneros—singers capable of the instantaneous improvisation of lyrics and riffs on the Son musical form, the most important root of Salsa. Besides performing his great ballads throughout the years he raised our social consciousness through many of his inspired compositions. For example, in 1966 he was one of the vocalists of the Joe Cuba Sextet, and is featured on the Sextet’s stellar release, “Y tu Abuela (We Must Be Doing Something Right)” on Tico Records S-LP 1133). There is an old saying, “¿Y tu abuela dónde está?”, which is commonly cited throughout our communities as a way of asserting that those who deny their Black ancestry have a “Black Grandmother”, who is usually delegated to the kitchen or otherwise hidden, especially when company comes to visit. “Y tu Abuela “addresses the racial issue as to how Puerto Ricans and Latinos deny their Black ancestry, and strive very hard to become “White”.

An important factor as to why people relate so much to “Cheo,” is because many of us can also relate to the difficult challenges he faced early in his career, and how he overcame those challenges, and triumphantly continued on with his successful career. Cheo never changed his demeanor, never let fame go to his head, and always treated his audience with the same dignity and respect, and, most importantly, considered them as his “FAMILIA.”

“Cheo” will be surely missed! ¡Buen Viaje Familia, Buen Viaje!

Carlos Flores is a community photographer as well as a teacher, writer and promoter on Afro-Caribbean music.