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.
Yesterday
Cheo Feliciano Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All my troubles seemed so far away,
Now it looks as though they're here to stay,
Oh, I believe in yesterday.
Suddenly,
I'm not half the man I used to be,
There's a shadow hanging over me,
Why she
Had to go I don't know, she wouldn't say.
I said,
Something wrong, now I long for yesterday.
Yesterday,
Love was such an easy game to play,
Now I need a place to hide away,
Oh, I believe in yesterday.
Why she
Had to go I don't know, she wouldn't say.
I said,
Something wrong, now I long for yesterday.
Yesterday,
Love was such an easy game to play,
Now I need a place to hide away,
Oh, I believe in yesterday.
The lyrics of "Yesterday" by Cheo Feliciano describe a feeling of nostalgia and regret for a lost love. The opening lines express a sense of hopelessness and despair: "All my troubles seemed so far away / Now it looks as though they're here to stay." The singer longs for the past when things were simpler and love was an easy game to play. He believes in yesterday, a time when his relationship was still intact.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer's lover has left him unexpectedly. He is left with a shadow hanging over him, unable to move on from the pain of losing his love. He is plagued by questions about why she had to go, and longs for the past when things were different. The repetition of the phrase "yesterday came suddenly" emphasizes the suddenness of the breakup and the singer's inability to cope with the loss.
Overall, the lyrics of "Yesterday" by Cheo Feliciano capture the universal experience of heartbreak and regret. They express the longing for a simpler, happier time before things fell apart, and the pain of trying to move on after a devastating loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Yesterday
The past, a time when things were easier and happier.
All my troubles seemed so far away
The past was a time when the singer's problems didn't seem as significant.
Now it looks as though they're here to stay
The problems that seemed far away in the past have now persisted and remain present in the present.
Oh, I believe in yesterday.
Despite the current situation, the singer still holds onto the belief that the past was better.
Suddenly
Abruptly, unexpectedly.
I'm not half the man I used to be
The singer is not as confident, strong or happy as they were in the past.
There's a shadow hanging over me
The singer is weighed down by a sense of negativity or sorrow.
Oh, yesterday came suddenly.
The changes that led to the present situation happened quickly and unexpectedly.
Why she
Referring to a woman who has left the singer.
Had to go I don't know, she wouldn't say.
The singer does not know why the woman left, as she did not give any explanation.
Something wrong, now I long for yesterday.
The singer acknowledges that something is not right in the present, and longs for the happiness of the past.
Love was such an easy game to play,
In the past, love came easily and did not pose as many challenges as it does now.
Now I need a place to hide away,
The singer needs a safe and secure place to escape from the challenges and difficulties of life.
Oh, I believe in yesterday.
The singer still holds onto the belief that the past was better, despite the challenges of the present.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CANDIDA DOYLE, JARVIS BRANSON COCKER, MARK ANDREW WEBBER, NICK BANKS, STEPHEN PATRICK MACKEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vitorino581
Letras
Yesterday
All my troubles seemed so far away
Now it looks as though they're here to stay
Oh, I believe in yesterday
Suddenly
I'm not half the man I used to be
There's a shadow hangin' over me
Oh, yesterday came suddenly
Why she had to go, I don't know, she wouldn't say
I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday
Yesterday
Love was such an easy game to play
Now I need a place to hide away
Oh, I believe in yesterday
Why she had to go, I don't know, she wouldn't say
I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday
Yesterday
Love was such an easy game to play
Now I need a place to hide away
Oh, I believe in yesterday
Mm mm mm mm mm mm mm
Fuente: LyricFind
Compositores: John Lennon / Paul McCartney
@edgardoherbales8743
CHEO FELICIANO, LO MAXIMO EN CUALQUIER IDIOMA QUE CANTARA. UNA VOZ INIGUALABLE.
@fernandogallego3800
¡¡Por Dios!! Eriza la piel, que hermosa interpretación del maestro Cheo.
@fernandogranadosbellorin284
El mejor cantante de Fania!!!
@nazlymorenoperea8862
Expectacular divino
@ariannapaula
Tremenda interpretación del maestro Cheo Feliciano ... Se soltaron los caballos !¡¡! Otra vez !!!
@sergiovaldivieso7236
Cheo si hoy existieran los Beatles, seguro te harían tributo a ti también, familia eres lo máximo.
@theuniversalconnection3510
Such great music. Nothing sweeter than this❤️❤️. The brass is to die for! The keys are divine. The bass is awesome.
@alvarorojas2069
Es como si Frank Sintara estuviese cantando salsa
@eliperez3333
escucharlo y no poder evitar algunas lagrimas... grande Cheo te nos uniste a los entrañables a los grandes que ya partieron!
@nelsonemiliocastillocampos5954
Gran interpretación de Cheo Feliciano, muchos gratos recuerdos cuando el maestro participaba en la Teletón en Panamá, con el Himno " Pa` mi gente panameña. Grande Cheo