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Nov. 16, 2004. 06:59 AM
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SCOTT GRIES/GETTY IMAGES
José Feliciano at Madison Square Garden in New York City in a 2001 concert photo.
José doing Jimi
Feliciano known for soulful covers
Blind artist plays Toronto on Friday
VIT WAGNER
POP MUSIC CRITIC
José Feliciano, who became Latin music's first big cross-over pop star back in the 1960s, has blazed more than one trail during a career than has spanned four decades and counting.
When Aerosmith's Steven Tyler opened this year's World Series with his screeching, rock-star rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner," many were reminded of Feliciano's unconventional, groundbreaking version of the anthem during 1968's culmination of the American national pastime. As legend had it, it was the first time anyone had tried to leaven the hallowed battle hymn with pop pizzazz.
Contrary to the angry fulminations of several pundits and editorialists of that time, the Puerto Rican-born singer/guitarist had meant no disrespect. Anything but.
"They got upset because I sang it with feeling — with soul," recalls Feliciano, 59, from his home in Connecticut. "I tried to make it good. If I took the Canadian anthem and sang it with soul, maybe some straitlaced people in Canada wouldn't understand and would think badly of it."
Feliciano likely will pass on interpreting "O Canada" when he performs Friday at the Toronto Centre for the Performing Arts, but that won't prevent him from putting his distinctive stamp on other familiar tunes.
"My philosophy on interpretation is that if you can't do it better than the original, don't bother with it," says Feliciano whose current disc, A Mexico ... Con Amor, is his first to essay a traditional style of songcraft called ranchera.
"I interpret things I like, such as `Purple Haze'. Come to my concert and hear me play Jimi Hendrix. You'll freak out."
It was a 1968 cover of the Doors' "Light My Fire" that catapulted Feliciano to stardom. The rendition soared to No. 3 on the charts and earned a Grammy Award. Feliciano, blind from birth with a congenital form of glaucoma, also won the best new artist Grammy that year.
At that time, Feliciano was a regular on the folk and coffeehouse circuit, appearing frequently in Toronto at the Penny Farthing, the less-heralded rival to the legendary Riverboat.
"I used to give the Riverboat competition," he boasts, "because every time I played the Penny Farthing, the Riverboat would be empty."
Feliciano also recalls crossing paths with the likes of Joni Mitchell, Ian and Sylvia and other stars of the Toronto folk scene.
"The person I got along with the most and still admire today is Gordon Lightfoot," he says. "I liked Ian and Sylvia, but Gordon has remained one of my dear friends to this day. He has written some great songs, but he never got the recognition here (in the U.S.) that he deserves."
Additional articles by Vit Wagner
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