5 Facts About the Christmas Favorite “Feliz Navidad” That You Probably Didn’t Know

Feliz Navidad

COMPOSER

Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Jose Feliciano.

MEANING

The traditional Puerto Rica greeting goes, "Feliz Navidad, próspero año y felicidad". It means, "Merry Christmas, a prosperous year and happiness".

ORIGIN

Belting out, "I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart", Jose's  has become a Christmas Classic. The 1970 recording was produced by Rick Jarrard, whose idea it was to add the horns.  It is one of the 25 most played and recorded Christmas songs around the world. It weas the title tune to a very successful album that year.

OTHER VERSIONS

WBKR also plays the Clay Walker version. Other covers include Boney M, Michale Buble featuring Thalia, grbarn, the cast of Glee and II Volo.

LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT FELICIANO

Feliciano was born blind due to congenital glaucoma, September 8, 1945. He was five when his family moved to New York City.

Ray Charles was a major influence on his style. The "10 finger wizard" as was called signed with RCA in 1968 and had numerous hits on the label. His 1968 performance at the game 5 World Series, of the "Star Spangled Banner" was met with derision and controversy which probably restricted his growth as an artist.

In 2010 he went back to Detroit and once again performed the National Anthem in his style, this time to accolades and no dissing.

Feliciano can also be remembered as the composer and singer of the theme from "Chico and the Man", a 70's TV hit starring Freddie Prinz.

Feliciano and his wife Susan have three children: daughter Melissa and sons Jonathan and Michael.

He continues to record and make appearances world wide.