What happened to Cheo Feliciano? Parents, Measurements, Salary



Known for movies



Cheo Feliciano (born Joseph Anthony Feliciano on July 3, 1935 in Ponce, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican singer and percussionist, best known for his work in the salsa and Latin jazz genres. He began his career in the early 1950s as a member of the Puerto Rican group Los Dandys, and made his first recordings with the band in 1955. He moved to New York City in the 1960s, where he worked with a number of Latin music luminaries, including Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, and Eddie Palmieri. He also recorded a number of solo albums, including the Grammy-winning Cheo (1970). In recent years, he has toured extensively with his own band, and has also been a featured guest artist with such groups as the Afro-Cuban All Stars and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.

Feliciano was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on July 3, 1935. His father, who was of African descent, was a carpenter and his mother was of Spanish and Taíno Indian heritage. He was the youngest of four children. When he was three years old, his family moved to the barrio of Machuelito in Ponce. As a child, he was exposed to a wide range of music, including Afro-Cuban rhythms, Puerto Rican bomba and plena, and American jazz and pop. He began playing percussion instruments at an early age, and by his teens was a proficient conga player.

In 1952, at the age of 17, Feliciano auditioned for and was accepted into Los Dandys, one of Puerto Rico’s most popular bands at the time. He recorded his first album with the group in 1955. The following year, he was drafted into the United States Army and served two years in Germany. Upon his return to Puerto Rico, he rejoined Los Dandys and continued to play with the band until 1961, when he moved to New York City.

In New York, Feliciano quickly established himself as a versatile and in-demand musician. He worked with a who’s who of Latin music stars, including Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Eddie Palmieri, Mongo Santamaria, and Willie Colón. He also recorded a number of solo albums, including Cheo (1970), which won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Recording. In recent years, Feliciano has toured extensively with his own band, and has also been a featured guest artist with such groups as the Afro-Cuban All Stars and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.

Feliciano is married to Ana Margarita Martinez-Casado; the couple has four children. He currently resides in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia