Exclusive | Feliz Navidad singer never would have dreamed in a million years the song would be so popular 54 years after its release
He’s grateful for the song’s success … from the bottom of his heart.“Feliz Navidad” is No.
10 on Spotify’s list of most-streamed holiday tracks of all time and singer-songwriter José Feliciano — who recorded the hit in just 10 minutes in 1970 — told The Post he never imagined it would still be so popular.“I never would have dreamed that in a million years,” he said.Feliciano, now 79, credits the catchy tune’s lasting appeal to its simplicity and message of unity.“I think because it’s a simple little song meant to bring people together and bring them joy.
We actually need that more than ever,” he said.The Puerto Rican native, who grew up with his 10 brothers in Spanish Harlem and the Bronx, said the song was partly inspired by the Boogie Down.
“‘Feliz Navidad’ brought me back to my Christmases at home as a little boy in Puerto Rico and then later in New York and the Bronx being one of those places where we lived until I moved to California.That’s where I ultimately recorded our Christmas LP,” he said.Feliciano, who was born blind, said he’s not sure if all of the multitudes of fans of his Christmas classic are aware of his disability.“I don’t know.
It doesn’t really matter, I don’t think … probably not,” he said.“I don’t particularly sound blind, I don’t think.”He taught himself the guitar, and as a teenager took classical guitar lessons at Lighthouse for the Blind, which was on East 59th Street in Midtown.
“I wanted to play guitar and I wanted to play it well,” said Feliciano, who got his start performing in Greenwich Village.“I wanted to be an artist but I never would have dreamt of this road that God had planned for me.”Holiday season or not, Feliciano gets requests to belt the tune out in public.“Anytime of year I’m asked to sing it,” he said.When asked where he’s heard the song around the world, he said, “My gosh, not to be smart but where might I haven’t heard it?”“But s...