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.
Salome
Cheo Feliciano Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ay que tiempo feliz
donde quieras que tu vivas
con amor noches tras dia, oye mamá
yo seguía tras de tí.
Salomé,
sabes cuanto te amé
al volverte recordar.
Hoy me dicen,
bendito mamita,
que te vierón por ahi
como sombra de una vida.
Que tristeza,
mi divina Salomé
ver a la que un dia amé
rodando así por ahi.
Salomé, a la la la la la
ay que tiempo feliz
cuando yo te quise a tí
mi divina Salomé.
Coro:
Recuerdo que tuve ayer
amores con Salomé.
Pero tanto, tanto como yo te quise
cositA buena, negrona, mi divina Salomé
Salomé, Salomé Salomé, Salomé cuidate mucho, mamá
que atí yo te quiro ver
Te lo digo yo, entre todas las mujeres
Salomé tenía caché.
Eh, eh distancia
pero distancia y categoria
la mulata que yo amé.
Amor, amor, amor amor, amor
amorcito, cosa buena
mira mamita bonita, yo te quiero Salomé.
~
Eeeh...
contigo na' mas, contigo na'mas, contigo na'mas
negrona buena, negrona rica, mi mamita Salomé.
Que negrona mas bonita
que negrona sabrosona
que venga buena, buena, buena, buena Salomé.
Ahora me dicen que te vierón por ahi
probrecita llorando
como sombra de una vida.
The song Salomé by Cheo Feliciano is about a woman who was once beloved by the singer. The lyrics express nostalgia for the happy times they shared together and sadness over Salomé's current state. Throughout the song, the singer reminisces about the fond memories they had and how much he loved Salomé. He speaks of the distance between them now and how he wishes to see her again.
The lyrics suggest that Salomé may have fallen on hard times and is now seen as a shadow of her former self. The singer expresses sorrow over this and implies that he would like to help her. The chorus repeats the phrase "Recuerdo que tuve ayer amores con Salomé," which translates to "I remember that I had love with Salomé yesterday," further emphasizing the longing for the days when they were together.
Line by Line Meaning
Salomé, ay que tiempo feliz donde quieras que tu vivas con amor noches tras día, oye mamá yo seguía tras de tí.
Salome, what a happy time it was, wherever you lived, whether it was night or day, I followed you with love, oh mother.
Salomé, sabes cuanto te amé de nostalgia lloré al volverte recordar.
Salome, you know how much I loved you, I cried of nostalgia when I remembered you again.
Hoy me dicen, bendito mamita, que te vierón por ahi como sombra de una vida.
Today they tell me, blessed mom, that they saw you out there, like a shadow of life.
Que tristeza, mi divina Salomé ver a la que un dia amé rodando así por ahi.
What sadness, my divine Salome, to see the one I loved once rolling like that out there.
Salomé, a la la la la la ay que tiempo feliz cuando yo te quise a tí mi divina Salomé.
Salome, oh what a happy time it was when I loved you, my divine Salome.
Recuerdo que tuve ayer amores con Salomé.
I remember having loves with Salome yesterday.
Pero tanto, tanto como yo te quise cosita buena, negrona, mi divina Salomé.
But as much as I loved you, good thing, dark-skinned, my divine Salome.
Salomé, Salomé Salomé, Salomé cuidate mucho, mamá que atí yo te quiro ver.
Salome, Salome, Salome, take good care of yourself, mom, because I want to see you.
Te lo digo yo, entre todas las mujeres Salomé tenía caché.
I'm telling you, among all women, Salome had style.
Eh, eh distancia pero distancia y categoria la mulata que yo amé.
Distance indeed, but it was a distance of class, the mulatta that I loved.
Amor, amor, amor amor, amor amorcito, cosa buena mira mamita bonita, yo te quiero Salomé.
Love, love, love, my good thing, look here beautiful mommy, I love you Salome.
Eeeh... contigo na' mas, contigo na'mas, contigo na'mas negrona buena, negrona rica, mi mamita Salomé.
Eeeh... with only you, with only you, with only you, good dark-skinned, rich dark-skinned, my mommy Salome.
Que negrona mas bonita que negrona sabrosona que venga buena, buena, buena, buena Salomé.
What a beautiful dark-skinned woman, a flavorful dark-skinned woman, let her come good, good, good, good Salome.
Ahora me dicen que te vierón por ahi probrecita llorando como sombra de una vida.
Now they tell me they saw you out there poor thing, crying like a shadow of life.
Contributed by Addison P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mariaromero-mm2re
Como pasan los años recurdos de 1978 desde Guatire Estado Miranda Venezuela. Saludos a mis amigos y un adiós a los que ya no están.
@alejandropenaloza8774
Tengo 50 años pero en la decada de los 80 me dormia escuchando sus canciones en la radio tuve el privilegio de de tener sus casset dios lo tenga en la gloria saludos desde venezuela
@julioalejandrobustamante4791
Salomé, ese nombre me acompaña, llega a mi mente como una canción de hace muchos años, como cuando se apaga el día y cambia el ánimo, me acompaña, y me siento feliz , aunque se haya perdido con el tiempo. Una vida muy linda a su lado, buenos recuerdos de lo que fuimos y buenas canciones que dejamos. Siempre me quedará el deseo de que me acompañes por última vez, así como tu nombre, mi Salo.
@carloscolon1700
Ese ritmo es inolvidable, la voz de Cheo y Luis en el Xilofano salsa de la mata a la raíz. Gracias Tite y Cheo.
@gonzalo8783
En mis tiempos de bachillerato iba rumbo al C.C.H. AZCAPOTZACO...Mexico,D.F. alla por 1979.Ahi conoci a un amor de segundo semestre llamada "Teresa Leon ".Un amor de 17-18 anitos...Torrido romance que marco mi adolescencia,asi vivimos cerca de los 3 anos de bachillerato.Y cuando cambiamos de facultad....jamas nos volvimos ver,Esta melodia la enmarque en mi corazon....por su nombre.."teresita "
@bettypatino4772
Ay bendito,tremenda pieza.,y la voz del siempre recordado cheo feliciano,
@wasacero1979
Cheo..papa..as always..excellent melodies..lets get it on..
RECUERDOS QUE TUVE AYER CON LA CHINA SALOME..🇨🇴🌶🌶🎼🎵🎶🎺🎺🎻🎹🎹 amores con salome...vaya..R.I.P.
.papa
@jaimerobles1585
Que banda! Barreto, Valentin, Vinnie Bell, Harlow, Vilato y la espléndida voz de Cheo.
@aquamatch
...suena durisimo!
@monicagalvan5129
Una joya