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SIX-TIME GRAMMY® AWARD WINNER TO VISIT THE BEAR'S DEN
Niagara Falls, NY, October 2004 - Jose Feliciano, famous for his Christmas hit "Feliz Navidad" (I Want to Wish You a Merry Christmas), will take the stage at the Bear's Den Showroom at Seneca Niagara Casino Saturday, November 20 at 9 p.m. Tickets are $30 and available at SenecaNiagaraCasino.com, Eight Clans Gift Shop, ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster locations, including Kaufmann's stores.
Now 59-years-old, Feliciano, born blind in Puerto Rico, is one of eleven boys. His love affair with music began at age three when he first played on a tin cracker can. When Feliciano was five, his family immigrated to New York City's Spanish Harlem. Within a year he had learned to play the concertina using a handful of records as his teacher. By eight he was performing for classmates at Public School 57 and the following year performed at The Puerto Rican Theater.
His passion for music continued as he taught himself to play guitar, locking himself in his room for up to 14 hours a day to listen to 1950s rock and roll albums. By the time he was 17, he quit school to play in Greenwich Village coffee houses and area clubs, helping support his family. That year he also added his voice to his guitar playing and received his first professional contracted performance that led him to Detroit.
His major break came via the Spanish market in 1966. He played at the Mar del Plata Festival in Argentina where RCA executives encouraged him to remain and record an album of Spanish music. He did his own interpretation of classic bolero music. The first single, "Poquita Fe" (Little Faith) was a big hit and "Uste" (You) was even bigger. He soon was a Latin American singing sensation, but his dream was to become a household name in the United States. "Feliz Navidad" opened the door and was soon followed by his own version of The Doors' song "Light My Fire."
By the time he was 23, Feliciano earned five GRAMMY® nominations, won two for his album "Feliciano!" and had performed worldwide recording songs in four languages. In 1968, at the height of Vietnam War protests, he was given the opportunity to sing the national anthem during the baseball World Series. His highly personalized slow Latin-jazz interpretation was highly controversial. He was the first artist to stylize the national anthem performing it publicly and it was the first time the anthem became a charted Top 40 recording. It has rarely been sung in its strictly traditional form since his historic performance.
Feliciano wanted more than music and decided to pursue acting, making a number of dramatic TV appearances. One of his most memorable moments came in December 1987 when he joined other entertainment legends in having his star permanently set on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was also given a star on the Walk of Fame in Puerto Rico. His hands were cast for the Wall of Fame in Madame Tussaud's in London, displayed among artists such as Phil Collins, Andrew Lloyd Weber, Michael Jackson and The Backstreet Boys. Another highlight was an invitation to Rome to star on "Christmas at the Vatican" in 1994 and a private audience with Pope John Paul II.
Feliciano's contributions to the music industry have been far reaching, spanning generations and continents while emphasizing cultural diversity and mutual acceptance. Notable songs include "Rain," "Chico and the Man," "California Dreamin'," "Affirmation," "Ponte A Cantar" and countless others.
In the past few years he has been touring around the world and performing in several concerts with artists including Gloria Estefan, Carlos Santana and Ricky Martin. Feliciano received the Alma Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2000 that celebrates the beauty and diversity of the Latin entertainment industry. He has recorded more than 65 albums during his career.
Seneca Niagara Casino is New York State's first full-service casino featuring reel-spinning and video slot machines. Just a few blocks from world-famous Niagara Falls, the Casino is located at 310 Fourth Street. The 112,590 square feet gaming floor houses more than 3,200 slot machines and 97 table games. A separate smoke-free casino, Turtle Island, is also available to patrons along with the Poker Room and the high-stakes Blue Heron Room.
In addition to gaming, Seneca Niagara Casino offers several restaurants including Thunder Falls Buffet, Morrie's Place and The Western Door: A Seneca Steakhouse. The Bear's Den Showroom, a 443-seat showroom-style theater and Club 101, a unique music venue located in the heart of the gaming floor, provide live entertainment. Free parking is available to patrons through complimentary valet services, self-parking areas and a four-story garage with covered walkway. The Casino is owned and operated by The Seneca Nation of Indians.
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