Jose Feliciano Shows Versatility at SPAC

by Marilyn Nason, The Post-Star, August 29, 1970

What a fantastic, all-around performer Jose Feliciano proved to be in concert last night at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. And a heck of a personable, nice guy to boot. There were only about 4,000 there but the rainstorms and threatening weather reports accounted in some measure for this small house.

Those who did attend got their money’s worth in spades. Feliciano does not rely on a warm-up, back-up group as so many single star performers do. He came out onstage as the show started, backed by a drummer and bass player, and he was there to stay for the full show, singing, playing beautiful guitar, chatting with the audience and displaying some humor and delightful way with jokes, especially when he spoofed current commercials.

For the latter, he did commendable imitations of umpteen people from Mrs. Miller to Tiny Tim and Bob Dylan and this was an extremely clever bit of comedy.

All the great songs this blind singer-guitarist has made famous over the years were offered, as well as Beatles tunes, county and western and Spanish and Greek selections. It was a thoroughly well-rounded show from every angle.

Shortly after the show started, the thunder, lightning and rains came and the lawn crowd moved in a most orderly fashion into the theatre. Feliciano suggested not worrying about the rain, then played appropriate music. He expressed his pleasure with the warmth and enthusiasm of the audience on several occasions, noting at one point, “we’ll start serving the free food soon.”

A persistent cough was plainly evident, and he admitted he was still recovering from a cold. Also, he observed that “this is my first gig in a long time, so please pardon the mistakes.” But he needn’t have given this warning to the audience, for there were no mistakes. Rather, it was a most professional, super-talented young man perched on a stool singing his heart out with a smile on his face and a genuine desire most evident to please the paying customers.

He possesses the now familiar unusual and distinctive voice which literally seems to play with a note and vocally sways the scale in tone and volume. As for his guitar playing, he is an excellent musician and does not require a mountain of amplifiers and electronic gear to substitute for talent. In fact, the show was intelligent, coherent, easy to understand and enjoy and the stage looked almost bare without a raft of equipment.

Tonight Arlo Guthrie and Judy Collins at 8:30 will be followed tomorrow by Oliver and the Young Americans. SPAC management has announced another “first,” with plans for closed circuit TV for the lawn crowd for Chicago Tuesday
night. A 15×20-foot screen with three TV cameras will be conveniently placed on the lawn for those situated where they can hear but not see.

Feliciano, for the fashion-minded, looked sharp in red shirt, purple pants, gold brocade vest and white shoes.