Anyone who travels as much as Feliciano must surround himself with a group of people who not only do the job, and do the job well, but who also provide for the group as a whole, a sense of oneness, of commitment to a common goal and shared camaraderie. Jose has been very fortunate on this score because (and anyone who has had the opportunity to see one of his performances lately knows) his touring entourage is comprised of a group of really wonderful fellows who are absolutely top-notch.

Jose's on-stage players include his Connecticut-based drummer, "Tyger" MacNeal who has been on the road with Feliciano for over ten years now; Greg Smith, from Southern California, his keyboard player and musical director who has been working with Jose on tour the longest of all the guys currently-since 1987; Bob Conti, the percussionist (an Melissa's godfather), also from Southern Cal. ; "newcomer", John Mennonna from Westchester County, New York, is Jose's outstanding bassist, Tyler McHugh, who adds depth and character to Jose's arrangements. All very talented guys, who sound great on stage courtesy of Jim Durkin, our Connecticut-based Sound Engineer and Production Coordinator. Jim has his own production company, locally, called, In Phase Audio, and Jose feels very fortunate to have the expert, himself, on tour with him whenever he leaves home. As with the entire entourage he says, "I don't leave home without 'em!" Very nice, Jose. The band, of course, is immune to the Feliciano Humor and amused by it---at least most of the time.

The Band Biographies (click a name to read the bio)
Tyger MacNeal Bob Conti Greg Smith
Tyler McHugh Johnny Mennonna Jim Durkin
Al Payson    
 
Jose's first band, however, was quite a different story

As a teenager, he was part of a jazz ensemble they called "The Modern Sound Trio". Bobby Grogen was the drummer, Bliss Rodriguez, the pianist, and of course a very young Jose, played the electric guitar. They played at school dances and at the Lighthouse for the Blind in New York City, and even on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour, a major television variety show in the 1950's and '60's.

Later, during the Light My Fire period of his career, the band consisted of the most warmly remembered and sentimentally regarded members, Ted Arnold on bass (who was the best man at Jose's and Susan's wedding-way back when-and they, in turn, are godparents to Teddy's first son), and the incomparable and beloved Paulinho Magalhaes, drummer and percussionist, who passed away in 1978. Along with Jose, this small combo embodied the ultimate in brotherhood, both musically and personally. It was a special time for Jose on the road where the three "banded" together in a truly unique manner. There is a place in his heart where those times together still live; he and his music are better for it.

Paulinho Megalhaes Teddy Arnold

May 14, 2008