José Feliciano's unconventional rendition of the national anthem at the 1968 World Series changed his life — for worse and for better. (OnlyAGameNPR)
José Feliciano’s life began in Puerto Rico. Congenital glaucoma left him blind at birth. Five years later, he moved with his family to New York City. He learned to play the accordion and then mastered a $10 Stella guitar."To me, it meant everything — because it took me a while to learn to play it, because I taught myself," Feliciano says."When I would get home from school, that's where I went — to the guitar, immediately.
"I had been working on a version of the anthem ... oh, at least a year before that. But it was totally radical and different than what I did. And I said, ‘Well, José, you know what? Maybe you shouldn't be so radical and do it a little bit easier for them to listen to — and know that you weren't messing around with the anthem.’"
"Well, I heard some cheers, but they were very sparse," Feliciano recalls."And I heard a lot of boos. And I said, ‘Wow, what did I do? Why are they booing me?’"I asked Feliciano when he really got the idea that there was a controversy. "There was so much negativity that I thought was unnecessary, uncalled for, unfair. I don't know, a 14-year-old, what do they do? Back in those days, if you're me, you start a fan club.""Because I was sick and tired of hearing it the old way and the audience, kind of, not being into it," Feliciano says. "Get to the end of the song, and the audience would start clapping as if to say, ‘Thank God this thing has passed.’ And I got tired of that. I did.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
An immigration detainee fell into a coma and died at 27. His family wants to know whyJosé Ibarra Bucio was being held at the Adelanto immigration detention center when he was hospitalized with a brain hemorrhage. He died last month.
Read more »
The new CEO behind Burger King, Popeyes, and Tim Hortons reveals his plans for the future of the chainsJosé Cil was named the new CEO of Restaurant Brands International, the parent company of Burger King, Tim Hortons, and Popeyes, in January.
Read more »
Hearing on climate change and national security becomes an angry partisan clashA House Oversight Committee hearing to examine the impact of climate change on national security -- including military bases ravaged by extreme weather events -- devolved into partisan sniping, personal attacks and efforts to deny climate change represents a threat.
Read more »
Lives forever changed by Christchurch shootingsOn a small farm on the outskirts of Christchurch in New Zealand, Omar Nabi digs ...
Read more »
Artificial limbs change lives for wounded Gaza protestersWalking up and down stairs at a Gaza medical center, Palestinian amputees are le...
Read more »
Slovak lawmakers voted to criminalize foreign national anthems. Now they say, whoops, can we cancel that?The president asked lawmakers to please actually read the amendment next time.
Read more »