From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1963
Feliciano Lauds Cleveland Audience Singing On It’s Feet
CLEVELAND – They stood up for RCA artist Jose Feliciano before he sang a note Oct. 17 at his Public Music Hall appearance. And they kept standing when the song was over.
Feliciano opened with his soul version of “Star Spangled Banner,” which had struck such a spark at the World Series game in Detroit Oct. 7.
The blind guitarist, who can set a fire with his fingertips, wowed the 2,500 audience with his wit as well as with his singing and playing. He did a hilarious
spoof of Coca -Cola commercials, imitating Barry McGuire, Mrs. Miller, Tiny Tim, Walter Brennan and Bob Dylan.
There was the haunting strains of “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” the beauty of “Malaguena,” the tenderness of “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Cryin,” the rollicking rhythm of his current “Hi-Heel Sneakers” and of “Mama Don’t Allow.” But the greatest ovation came from his million-seller “Light My Fire.”
Feliciano wound up singing “Hang on Sloopy” in Spanish, banging on the bongos. Also on the bill, British comedian Jonathan Moore scored with comedy routines on laundermats, airplanes and Hell’s Angels. WKYC disk jockey Fred Winston emceed the Belkin Brothers production. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; November 2, 1968)
