FELICIANO LIGHTS A MUSICAL FIRE IN CLEVELAND CONCERT . . . NOVEMBER 2, 1968

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

___

(Information and news source: Billboard; November 2, 1968)


Jose Feliciano 1968

Loading

HARWELL. THE VOICE OF SUMMER’S PAST REMEMBERED


The Anthem Gets Booed * ERNIE HARWELL’S AUDIO SCRAPBOOK


DETROIT FREE PRESS October 8, 1968

‘THE ANTHEM GETS BOOED’

*****

Besides the voice of Ernie Harwell, the various narratives you will hear throughout the entire audio book is by Raleigh, N.C. sports broadcaster Gordon Miller. Occasional questions you will also hear is by veteran Duke University sports broadcaster Bob Harris.

*****

Ernie Harwell passed away on May 4, 2010. He was known as “the voice of the Detroit Tigers” for over 40 years. He called his last Tiger game in Toronto, on September 29, 2002. In 1981, Harwell was awarded baseball’s most prestigious Ford C. Frick Award.

He became only the fifth baseball broadcaster enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Voice of Summer Remembered

(CD audio set availability, link: Ernie Harwell’s Audio Scrapbook 2009


Tiger Stadium October 7, 1968


Loading

OCTOBER ’68: FELICIANO ANTHEM PRESSED ON VINYL

Jose Feliciano singing the National Anthem at Tiger Stadium, Detroit, October 7, 1968 (Game 5) 1968

 O C T O B E R   1 7 ,  1 9 6 8 :   T O D A Y  I N   M U S I C   H I S T O R Y


Jose Feliciano and his guide-dog, Trudy, 1968.
Jose Feliciano with his guide-dog, Trudy, 1968.

1 9 6 8 :  On this date, October 17, RCA Records released Jose Feliciano’s rendition of the national anthem. Suggested by Detroit Tigers’ broadcaster Ernie Harwell that Feliciano perform the national anthem at Tiger Stadium, Detroit, before game 5 of the 1968 World Series (October 7), Feliciano instead sang his version of The Star Spangled Banner — away from the anthem’s traditional chords in “bluesy-like” fashion — thereafter drawing an immediate firestorm which the singer to this day has laid claim, that event alone, nearly ruined his career. Five weeks on the singles chart, the recording peaked at No. 50 on Billboard, November 30, 1968.


 Today In Pop Music History: October 17, 1968



THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER * Jose Feliciano * RCA Records (1968)

mcrfb-com-logo-2

Jose Feliciano in 1968.
JOSE FELICIANO (Wikipedia link)

Loading