In 1964, I was the MC of The Hootenanny at The Bitter End Cafe in Greenwich Village every Tuesday night. One night a young woman came in dragging a blind Puerto Rican kid with a guitar. She said to put him on the stage, that he was really good. I said, "Sure," and put him on at two in the morning. When he sang his first song, I told the woman, "Bring him in any time -- I'll put him on any time you say." It was Jose Feliciano. About ten years later, at a club in Huntington Beach, California, I was his opening act doing my mime/comedy act, and he used to heckle me. I'd do a mime shtick, the audience would laugh, and he'd call out from the back, "That was really good, Richmond."
What a joy to see him perform at Iridium last night. Jose's still got it, and better than ever, with his masterful guitar playing and smooth, sweet melodious voice that has grown to a richness and fullness in his maturity. He is a gripping entertainer totally at one with his instrument -- every thought comes out musically. He sprinkles humor thru his show, and his impressions of Bob Dylan, Louis Armstrong, Walter Brennan and Iglesias father and son were right on and hilarious.
Jose's star still shines brightly. He did an hour and a half, and we wanted more. It was a pleasure and a privilege to hear him, be moved by him, and be in his radiance.
