Cheo Feliciano

Cheo Feliciano took an early interest in music, especially bolero; when only eight years old, he and some friends formed El Combo Las Latas. In 1952, his father moved to New York to find work. Although Feliciano went to school in the city he was more interested in developing his musical life, and hung around musicians of note, such as Machito, Luis Maquina, Tito Puente and Tito Rodríguez. After a chance gig singing with Rodríguez’s band, the bandleader recommended the young man to join the recently formed Joe Cuba Sextet. After a stint in Puerto Rico, where he kicked a drug habit, Feliciano returned to work, recording several albums for Fania, Sony and Universal Music Latino.