Check out all the photos HERE
José Feliciano is an artist whose career spans more than 40 years in the realm of pop, rock, jazz and classical with a world-wide fan base. José is recognised as the first Latin Artist to cross over into the English music market, opening the doors to others who now play an important part in the American music industry. A huge crowd gathered at The Gov to pay their respects to this man of legendary status, especially the grey-haired rock’n’rollers of the 60’s and 70’s who had ventured out for the evening, some wishing they had brought ear plugs!
José was led on stage by one of his band members to sit on a stool in the centre of the stage with his acoustic guitar in hand. His ultra talented backing band gathered round on percussion, drums, keyboard, and bass to form a tight knit show piece. Not one player wavered off the path all night as they traversed a fantastic blend of famous cover songs and Feliciano-penned Spanish songs and Latin American hits.
With no introduction needed, José and the band burst into Ain’t No Sunshine to huge welcoming cheers. More covers followed courtesy of well-known pop stars and rock’n’roll greats including * The Beatles* In My Life, Ray Charles I Got A Woman and Eric Clapton’s Lay Down Sally. The set list was one long register of popular singles across genres and generations that were performed almost better than the originals. The cover of the night for me was also the most unexpected, Billy Jean, which was presented using an odd blend of instruments I would never have thought to work in the pop world – acoustic guitar, bongos and synthesizer! The other reason this song stood out was due to the fact it was recorded in my lifetime.
Feliciano is a generous and rather chatty guy, retelling stories about the band’s excursions on tour and what he was doing when his songs were recorded, mostly in the 1960’s. Although I wasn’t born before most of these songs had been recorded, I could certainly value their importance as could the enormously appreciative crowd.
Mid set José switched to an electric guitar and let loose with a superb rendition of Hendrix with Purple Haze. Most people had come to hear his classic pop tunes and Spanish melodies, and some were turned off by this heavy 70’s solo, but I thought it was a great inclusion to mark his extreme versatility.
The next crowd favourite that had most people singing and dancing was Bombalayo. More hits followed until the show finished with Feliciano’s signature tune, a Latin reworking of The Doors Light my Fire which the crowd had been waiting for. Then a gracious encore of his Spanish hit Que Sera left us in awe and feeling fortunate to have witnessed this legendary performer.
Check out all the photos HERE
