Feliciano was raised and educated in the city of Ponce, which is located in the southern part of Puerto Rico. As a child, he was nicknamed "Cheo" by his family - a name which means Jose and is a term normally only used by close friends and family. However, the name stuck and became part of his everyday name (using the nickname avoids confusion with Jose Feliciano, another major Puerto Rican singer to whom he is not related). At a young age he was influenced by the bolero music of the "Trio Los Panchos". When he was only eight years old he formed his first group with his friends and named it "El Combo Las Latas". They were so poor that their musical instruments were made out of cans. Cheo attended the Free School of Music in Ponce after finishing his primary education where he studied and became a percussionist.
In 1952, Feliciano moved with his family to New York City and settled down in Spanish Harlem. Here he auditioned as a percussionist in the "Ciro Rimac's Review" band - giving him his first professional musical job. Bandleader Tito Rodriguez, heard Feliciano play and offered him a job in his orchestra; this he accepted but after playing for some time with Tito, he left the band to play the conga for Luis Cruz. Despite leaving he always remained on friendly terms with Tito. Feliciano also played perussionist for "Kako y su Trabuco" orchestra. He was also a roadie for Mon Rivera.
In 1955, Tito Rodriguez found out that Joe Cuba was in need of a singer for his sextet. Aware that Feliciano was also a talented singer, Tito recommended that he try out for the position. Feliciano auditioned and became a vocalist for the Joe Cuba Sextet. He was the rare baritone among salsa singers, and his deep voice and quick wit as an improviser made him a favorite among the Latino public.
On October 5, 1957, Feliciano made his professional singing debut with the song "Perfidia" (he was also married on that same day). He sang for the sextet for a total of 10 years. During those years, he enjoyed successes with the following "hits",:
* "A la Seis" (At Six),
* "Como Ríen" (How They Laughed),
* "El Pito (I'll Never Go Back To Georgia)" and
* "El Ratón" (The Rat), which he composed.
Feliciano was also an anti-war activist during the Viet Nam War era.
In 1967, Cheo joined the Eddie Palmieri Orchestra and sang for them for 2 years. However, an increasing addiction to heroin threatened his life and career. He decided to cure himself "cold turkey" and eventually join Puerto Rico's rehabilitation center, Hogares CREA. He credits Tite Curet Alonso, the author of most of his hits and his best friend, with pushing him through his rehabilitation. As a result, Feliciano is a candid (and vehement) anti-drug spokesperson, who has volunteered to assist in the rehabilitation of fellow salsa artists who fall prey to drug addiction.
In 1972, Feliciano came back to music and made album "Cheo", his first solo recording, which broke all sales records in the Latino music market. The album included:
* "Anacaona" and
* "Mi Triste Problema" (My Sad Problem).
During the 1970s, Feliciano recorded for the "Fania Record Co." and had "Hits" with "Amada Mia" (My Love) and "Juan Albañil". He also participated in the first salsa opera "Hommy".
In 1982, Feliciano formed his own recording company called "Coche Records" and in 1985 he became the first singer of tropical themes to perform at the Amira de la Rosa Theater in Barranquilla, Colombia. In 1987, Feliciano landed the role of Roberto Clementes father in the musical "Clemente".
In 1990, he recorded his first album of boleros title "Los "Feelings" de Cheo". Feliciano traveled and performed in many Latin American countries including Cuba and Venezuela. In Venezuela, he had a reencounter and performed with Eddie Palmieri. In 1995, Feliciano won a Platinum Record Award for "La Combinación Perfecta" (The Perfect Combination).
In 2000, Feliciano recorded "Mil Voces, Mil Recuerdos" (A Thousand Voices, A Thousand Memories) as a tribute to various Puerto Rican singers. The album was named among the 20 outstanding recordings of the year by the National Fundation of the Popular Culture of Puerto Rico. In 2002, Feliciano recorded "Cheo en la Intimidad".
During the years, Cheo Feliciano has received the following recognitions:
* 1975-The Golded Cup-Venezuela,
* 1976-"Most Popular Artist" by Latin New York magazine,
* 1977-Daily News Front Page Award "Best Latin Vocalist",
* 1985-Owl of Gols-Panama, The Silver Chin Award-Miami, A Golden Agueybana Award-Puerto Rico,
* 1983-Honorable Son of Ponce and 1984,
* 1999-A Tribute in his honor from the Puerto Rican Senate.
Cheo Feliciano currently resides in Puerto Rico and continues to record boleros. He is also the anti-drugs spokesperson for the Government of Puerto Rico.
Mi Triste Problema
Cheo Feliciano Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Con el pensamiento fuera de lugar
Seguir angustiado
Viendo que se pierde la felicidad
Estar convencido
De que en un vacío peor que le olvido
Se hundió todo aquello
Andar con la pena
De que nadie sepa cuál es mi dolor
Sentir mi problema y vivir la vida
Con cara de amor
Y con pesadumbre
Contestarle al mundo que nada ha pasado
Como de costumbre seguir mi camino
Sonriendo a tu lado
Andar con la pena
De que nadie sepa cuál es mi dolor
The song "Mi Triste Problema" by Cheo Feliciano tells the story of a person who is struggling to keep their relationship with their significant other intact. The singer is living with their loved one but feels as though their mind is elsewhere, as they are constantly worried that their happiness is slipping away. They are convinced that they are in an empty space worse than being forgotten, where everything that was once theirs is now lost.
The lyrics suggest that the singer is trying to put on a brave face for the world, despite their inner turmoil. They carry the weight of their sadness, feeling as though nobody understands their pain. They continue to live their life with a smile on their face, even though they are hurting deeply inside. The song portrays the difficulty of maintaining a relationship and how it can sometimes seem like a losing battle.
Line by Line Meaning
Vivir a tu lado
Living by your side
Con el pensamiento fuera de lugar
With my thoughts all over the place
Seguir angustiado
Remain distressed
Viendo que se pierde la felicidad
Watching the happiness slip away
Estar convencido
Being convinced
De que en un vacío peor que el olvido
That in a void worse than forgetting
Se hundió todo aquello
Everything sank
Que siendo tan nuestro ya es tiempo perdido
That being so much ours, it's already lost time
Andar con la pena
Walking with the sorrow
De que nadie sepa cuál es mi dolor
That nobody knows what my pain is
Sentir mi problema y vivir la vida
Feeling my problem and living life
Con cara de amor
With a loving face
Y con pesadumbre
And with heaviness
Contestarle al mundo que nada ha pasado
Telling the world that nothing happened
Como de costumbre seguir mi camino
As usual, continue on my path
Sonriendo a tu lado
Smiling by your side
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: CATALINO ALONSO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tuli Panis
Vivir a tu lado
Con el pensamiento fuera de lugar
Seguir angustiado
Viendo que se pierde la felicidad
Estar convencido
De que en un vacío peor que le olvido
Se hundió todo aquello
Que siendo tan nuestro ya es tiempo perdido
Andar con la pena
De que nadie sepa cuál es mi dolor
Sentir mi problema y vivir la vida
Con cara de amor
Y con pesadumbre
Contestarle al mundo que nada ha pasado
Como de costumbre seguir mi camino
Sonriendo a tu lado
Andar con la pena
De que nadie sepa cuál es mi dolor
lopz33
Un día como hoy, 17 de abril de 2014, falleció en San Juan, Puerto Rico, José Luis Feliciano Vega, mejor conocido como Cheo Feliciano, cantautor de salsa y bolero. Todavía lo extrañamos, Maestro. 🎶🎤✍🎵😢😢😢😢😢
Tuli Panis
Vivir a tu lado
Con el pensamiento fuera de lugar
Seguir angustiado
Viendo que se pierde la felicidad
Estar convencido
De que en un vacío peor que le olvido
Se hundió todo aquello
Que siendo tan nuestro ya es tiempo perdido
Andar con la pena
De que nadie sepa cuál es mi dolor
Sentir mi problema y vivir la vida
Con cara de amor
Y con pesadumbre
Contestarle al mundo que nada ha pasado
Como de costumbre seguir mi camino
Sonriendo a tu lado
Andar con la pena
De que nadie sepa cuál es mi dolor
lopz33
Un día como hoy, 5 de agosto de 2003, falleció en Baltimore, Maryland, EU, el extraordinario compositor puertorriqueño de más de 2,000 canciones, Don Catalino (Tite) Curet Alonso, La Pluma de la Salsa. ¡Te seguimos extrañando, Maestro! 🎵🖋🎶😢
Jesús Saavedra DJ
ESTA CANCIÓN ME TOCO EL ALMA SE ME CAYERON ALGUNAS LAGRIMAS AL ESCUCHAR LA LETRA DE LA CANCIÓN ............. QUE BELLO TEMA SALUDOS DE LIMA PERÚ.
CIRA GUEVARA
Mi amado Cheo tu voz nunca se apagará, Q.E.P.D
Jorge Alberto Perea Bello
Bellísimo tema de Tite Curet Alonso.... lo escribió para Cheo Feliciano en una bolsa de papel en media hora mientras viajaba en una guagua.
Josue Trujillo
¿Qué es una guagua?
Carlos Peluzza
una gua gua es el bus o omnibus comercial
Josue Trujillo
oh, muchas gracias!
JAM Méndez
@Josue Trujillo es un autobús o aún automóvil. Eso sí fue muy cierto, Tite escribió este tema en la media hora que le costo el recorrido desde Puerto Nuevo en San Juan. Eran 10 temas y solamente tenían 9 y esto hizo que Tite Curet sacara de su talento y lo plasmara en esta canción.