Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Jose Feliciano - "I'm never gonna change"

José Montserrate Feliciano García (born September 10, 1945) is a Puerto Rican singer and guitarist. He was left permanently blind at birth due to congenital glaucoma. Feliciano overcame the effects of this impairment to score many international hits Feliciano was born in Lares, Puerto Rico, one of eleven children. He was first exposed to music at age three. At five, his family moved to Spanish Harlem, New York City and, at age nine, he played on the Teatro Puerto Rico. He started his musical life playing accordion until his grandfather gave him a guitar. He reputedly sat by himself in his room for up to 14 hours a day to listen to 1950s rock albums, classical guitarists like Andrés Segovia, and jazz players like Wes Montgomery. He later had classical lessons with Harold Morris who earlier had been a student with Segovia.

At 17, he quit school to play in clubs, having his first professional, contracted performance in Detroit. In 1989, I'M NEVER GONNA CHANGE was released.

JOSE FELICIANO - I'M NEVER GONNA CHANGE (12")