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.
Salí Porque Salí
Cheo Feliciano Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Otra vez sin decir nada de mi
otra vez voy pasando por ahí
donde voy procurando sin hallar
puede ser que te vuelva yo a encontrar.
Otra vez por aquello que soñar
echaré ilusiones a volar
y dejar en el olvido cuanto yo deba olvidar.
Para tí ni siquiera yo tendré
ni quizás la limosna de un mirar
fué mejor sepultar en el ayer
tu lejano amor prohíbido que jamas debió de ser.
Otra vez voy pasando por ahí
otra vez con mi cara tan feliz
si a tu amor yo llegué porque llegué
de tu amor yo salí porque salí.(bis)
alara lala lala alara lala lala
A tí llegué porque llegué, y salí porque salí
amo cuando pueda amar, sigo andando por ahí.
Por ahí, por ahí voy yo caminado
camino por donde quiera
ami no me digas nada, mama
en esta te quedaste afuera.
Ahora todo es diferente
la cosa no es como era
voy sólito, voy contento
ahora me la gozo entera.
Pero que son las cosas del amor
esta cambiando la escena
negrona ya bajó el telón, mira
y comienza otra novela.
Estas son cosas que pasan
como me dijo Tite Curet
yo seguiré por mi rumbo
y le deseo mucha felicidad a usted.
Pero la vida es una comedia
esta es la universidad
no va para ningún lado
quien no sabe donde está, oye.
Mira negrona, cada cual por su rumbo
y que seamos felices.
The lyrics to Cheo Feliciano's song Sali Porque Sali portray the emotions and thoughts of a man who is passing by a place he used to frequent with his loved one. He reminisces about the past and how he longed to reunite with his loved one, but now he has accepted the reality that it might not happen. He decides to leave the past behind and move on with his life, but he is still open to the idea of finding new love and experiencing happiness. The lyrics are filled with hope and optimism, as the singer refuses to dwell on the past and instead focuses on what the future might bring.
In the chorus of the song, the singer repeats the phrase "amo cuando pueda amar" which translates to "I'll love when I can love" in English. This phrase is a powerful reminder that even though he has been hurt in the past, he is still open to the idea of finding new love and experiencing happiness. The verses of the song are filled with vivid imagery, as the singer describes his surroundings and the emotions he is feeling. The lyrics are beautifully written, and the melody of the song only adds to the powerful message it conveys.
Overall, Sali Porque Sali is a song about accepting the past, embracing the present, and moving forward with hope for the future. The lyrics are a testament to the power of love, and the fact that even when things don't go as planned, it's possible to find happiness and meaning in life.
Line by Line Meaning
alara lala lala alara lala lala
Instrumental intro
Otra vez sin decir nada de mi
Again passing by without mentioning me
otra vez voy pasando por ahí
Once again, I'm passing by
donde voy procurando sin hallar
Where I'm trying to find without success
puede ser que te vuelva yo a encontrar.
Perhaps I'll run into you again
Otra vez por aquello que soñar
Once again, for that which to dream
echaré ilusiones a volar
I'll let my dreams fly
amaré todo cuanto pueda amar
I'll love all that I can love
y dejar en el olvido cuanto yo deba olvidar.
And forget all that I must forget
Para tí ni siquiera yo tendré
For you, I will not even exist
ni quizás la limosna de un mirar
Not even the gift of a glance
fué mejor sepultar en el ayer
It was better to bury in the past
tu lejano amor prohíbido que jamas debió de ser.
Your distant love was forbidden and never should have been
Otra vez voy pasando por ahí
Once again, I'm passing by
otra vez con mi cara tan feliz
Once again, with my happy face
si a tu amor yo llegué porque llegué
If I arrived at your love, it's because I did
de tu amor yo salí porque salí.
From your love, I left because I did.
alara lala lala alara lala lala
Instrumental outro
A tí llegué porque llegué, y salí porque salí
I came to you because I did, and left because I did
amo cuando pueda amar, sigo andando por ahí.
I'll love when I am able to love and keep walking around
Por ahí, por ahí voy yo caminado
Around, around I go walking
camino por donde quiera
I walk wherever I want
ami no me digas nada, mama
Don't say anything to me, momma
en esta te quedaste afuera.
You're out on this one
Ahora todo es diferente
Now everything is different
la cosa no es como era
Things aren't like they used to be
voy sólito, voy contento
I go alone, I'm happy
ahora me la gozo entera.
Now I enjoy it completely
Pero que son las cosas del amor
But what are the things of love
esta cambiando la escena
The scene is changing
negrona ya bajó el telón, mira
The show's over, look
y comienza otra novela.
And another story begins
Estas son cosas que pasan
These are things that happen
como me dijo Tite Curet
Like Tite Curet told me
yo seguiré por mi rumbo
I'll keep going my way
y le deseo mucha felicidad a usted.
And I wish you much happiness
Pero la vida es una comedia
But life is a comedy
esta es la universidad
This is the university
no va para ningún lado
It doesn't go anywhere
quien no sabe donde está, oye.
He who doesn't know where he is, listen
Mira negrona, cada cual por su rumbo
Look, everybody on their own way
y que seamos felices.
And let's be happy.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: CATALINO ALONSO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind