Anacaona (1474 – c. 1503), also called the Golden Flower, was a Taíno cacica (chief), sister of Bohechío, chief of Jaragua, and wife of Caonabo, chief of the nearby territory of Maguana, two of the five highest caciques who ruled the island of Xayti (now Hispaniola) when the Spaniards settled there in 1492. She was celebrated as a composer of ballads and narrative poems, called areítos.

Life[link]

Anacaona was born in Yaguana (today the town of Léogane, Haiti) in 1474. During Christopher Columbus's visit to the chiefdom of Jaragua in what is now southwest Haiti in late 1496, Anacaona and her brother Bohechío appeared as equal negotiators. On that occasion, described by Bartolomé de las Casas in Historia de las Indias, Columbus successfully negotiated for tribute of food and cotton to be paid by the natives to the Spanish invaders under his command. The visit is described as having taken place in a friendly atmosphere. Several months later, Columbus arrived with a caravel to collect a part of the tribute. Anacaona and Behechío had sailed briefly aboard the caravel, near today's Port-au-Prince in the Gulf of Gonâve.

Anacaona's high status was probably strengthened by elements of matrilineal descent in the Taíno society, as described by Peter Martyr d'Anghiera. Taíno caciques usually passed inheritance to the eldest children of their sisters. When their sisters had no children, they chose among the children of their brothers, and when there were none, they fell back upon their own.

Anacaona had one child, named Higuemota, whose dates of birth and death are lost to history.

Arrest and death[link]

Anacaona became chief of Jaragua after her brother's death. Her husband Caonabo, suspected of having organized the attack on La Navidad (a Spanish settlement on northern Hispaniola), was captured by Alonso de Ojeda and shipped to Spain, dying in a shipwreck during the journey. The Taínos, being ill-treated by the conquerors, revolted and made a long war against them. During a feast organized by eighty-four regional chieftains to honor Anacaona, who was friendly to the Spaniards, the Spanish Governor Nicolás de Ovando ordered the meeting house to be set on fire. He arrested Anacaona and her Taíno noblemen — all of whom, being accused of conspiracy, were executed. While the others were shot, Anacaona was executed by hanging. She was twenty-nine years old.

Legacy[link]

Her immortalization in the intertwining histories of both Haiti and the Dominican Republic have resulted in the use of her name for various places in both countries. Many in Haiti claim her as a significant icon in early Haitian history and consequently a primordial founder of their country. Renowned Haitian American author Edwidge Danticat wrote an award-winning novel in dedication to the fallen chief. She was immortalized by Tite Curet Alonso in his song "Anacaona".

References[link]

• Bartolomé de las Casas: A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies.
• Peter Martyr d'Anghiera: De Orbe Novo.
• Samuel M. Wilson: Hispaniola - Caribbean Chiefdoms in the Age of Columbus. The University of Alabama Press, 1990. ISBN 0-8173-0462-2.
• This article incorporates text from the public domain Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography.

1. ^ http://www.elyunque.com/loiza.htm

External links[link]

• The Louverture Project: Anacaona
• Songs (salsa) about Anacaona (Cheo Feliciano and the Fania All Stars): Anacaona

               (present-day Léogane, Haiti)

José Feliciano, better known as Cheo Feliciano (born July 3, 1935), is a composer and singer of salsa and bolero music.

Early years[link]

Feliciano (birth name: José Luis Feliciano Vega ^{[note 1]}) was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, the second largest city in the island located in the southern part of Puerto Rico. There he was raised and educated. As a child, he was nicknamed "Cheo" by his family - a name which means José and is a term normally only used by close friends and family. However, the name stuck and became part of his everyday name (using the nickname avoids confusion with José Feliciano, another major Puerto Rican singer to whom he is not related). At a young age he was influenced by the bolero music of the Trio Los Panchos. When he was only eight years old he formed his first group with his friends and named it "El Combo Las Latas". They were so poor that their musical instruments were made out of cans. Feliciano attended the Free School of Music in Ponce after finishing his primary education where he studied and became a percussionist.^[1][2][3]

Musical career[link]

In 1952, Feliciano moved with his family to New York City and settled down in Spanish Harlem. Here he auditioned as a percussionist in the "Ciro Rimac's Review" band - giving him his first professional musical job. Bandleader Tito Rodríguez, heard Feliciano play and offered him a job in his orchestra; this he accepted but after playing for some time with Tito, he left the band to play the conga for Luis Cruz. Despite leaving he always remained on friendly terms with Tito. Feliciano also played percussionist for Kako y su Trabuco orchestra. He was also a roadie for Mon Rivera.^[1][2][3]

In 1955, Rodríguez found out that Joe Cuba was in need of a singer for his sextet. Aware that Feliciano was also a talented singer, he recommended Cuba that he try out for the position. Feliciano auditioned and became a vocalist for the Joe Cuba Sextet. He was the rare baritone among salsa singers, and his deep voice and quick wit as an improviser made him a favorite among the Latino public.^[1][2][3]

Singing debut[link]

On October 5, 1957, Feliciano made his professional singing debut with the song "Perfidia" (he was also married on that same day). He sang for the sextet for a total of 10 years. In 1967, he joined the Eddie Palmieri Orchestra and sang for them for two years. However, an increasing addiction to heroin threatened his life and career. He decided to cure himself "cold turkey" and eventually join Puerto Rico's rehabilitation center, Hogares CREA. Feliciano credits Tite Curet Alonso, the author of most of his hits and his best friend, with pushing him through his rehabilitation. As a result, he is a candid (and vehement) anti-drug spokesperson, who has volunteered to assist in the rehabilitation of fellow salsa artists who fall prey to drug addiction.^[1][2][3]

Feliciano returns[link]

In 1972, Feliciano came back to music and made album "Cheo", his first solo recording, which broke all sales records in the Latino music market. The album included:

• "Anacaona" and
• "Mi Triste Problema" (My Sad Problem).

During the 1970s, Feliciano recorded for the "Fania Record Co." and had "Hits" with "Amada Mia" (My Love) and "Juan Albañil". He also participated in the first salsa opera "Hommy".

In 1982, Feliciano formed his own recording company called "Coche Records" and in 1985 he became the first tropical singer to perform at the Amira de la Rosa Theater in Barranquilla, Colombia. In 1987, he landed the role of Roberto Clemente's father in the musical "Clemente".^[1][2][3]

In 1990, Feliciano recorded the bolero album titled "Los "Feelings" de Cheo" a romantic music album. 17 years had past since his all bolero recordings of La Voz Sensual and Looking for Love, both recorded in Buenos Aires, Argentina and orchestrated and arranged by Maestro Jorge Calandreli. He has traveled all over Europe,Japan, Africa, and South America. In Venezuela, he had a reunion with Eddie Palmieri. In 1995, Feliciano won a Platinum Record Award for "La Combinación Perfecta" (The Perfect Combination).^[1][2][3]

In 2000, Feliciano recorded "Una Voz, Mil Recuerdos" (One Voice, A Thousand Memories) as a tribute to various Puerto Rican singers. The album was named among the 20 outstanding recordings of the year by the National Foundation of the Popular Culture of Puerto Rico. In 2002, he recorded "Cheo en la Intimidad". Currently Feliciano is working with Panamanian singer and actor Ruben Blades. This production will have them singing each others' music. A Release date has not been determined. Feliciano is still very active and continues to travel and perform all over the world.^[1][2][3]

Recordings[link]

During the years, he enjoyed successes with the following "hits",:

• "A las Seis" (1962),
• "El Pito"(1967)
• "Busca Lo Tuyo"(1968) Eddie Palmieri
• "anacaona"(1971)
• "Mi Triste Problema"(1971)
• "Salome"(1973)
• "Nabori"(1973)
• "Mapeye"(1973)
• "El Ratón" (1974), Fania All Stars
• "Canta" (1976)
• "Los Entierros" (1979)
• "Amada Mia" (1980)
• "Juan Albañil" (1980)
• "Sobre Una Tumba Humilde" (1980)
• "Ritmo Alegre" (1981), Eddie Palmieri
• "Trizas" (1982)
• "Yo No Soy Un Angel" (1990)
• "Mentiras" (1990)

Discography[link]

Awards and recognitions[link]

Over the years, Cheo Feliciano has received the following recognitions:

• 1975-The Golden Cup-Venezuela,
• 1976-"Most Popular Artist" by Latin New York magazine,
• 1977-Daily News Front Page Award "Best Latin Vocalist",
• 1985-Owl of Gols-Panama, The Silver Chin Award-Miami, A Golden Agueybana Award-Puerto Rico,
• 1983 & 1984-Honorable Son of Ponce,
• 1999-A tribute in his honor from the Puerto Rican Senate.
• 2008- In honor of 50 years in the music industry, Michael Bloomberg (Mayor of New York at the time)

declared June 20 Cheo Feliciano Day in New York City.

• 2008-Grammy for Excellence in Music at the Latin Grammy Awards.
• In Ponce, he is recognized at the Park for the Illustrious Ponce Citizens.

Recent years[link]

Cheo Feliciano currently resides in Puerto Rico and continues to record boleros. He is also the anti-drugs spokesperson for the Government of Puerto Rico.

See also[link]

	Puerto Rico portal
	Biography portal

• List of famous Puerto Ricans
• Black history in Puerto Rico

Notes[link]

1. ^
   This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Feliciano and the second or maternal family name is Vega.

References[link]

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (December 2010)

La Sista (Maidel Amador Canales) is one of few female reggaeton artists.^[1]

From Loíza, Puerto Rico, several members of her family are also musicians.^[1] She got a big break at the age of 19 when she appeared on the television programme La Casa Under, and since signed to Machete Music, releasing her debut album in 2006.^[1]

Discography[link]

• Majestad Negroide (2006), Machete Music
• Los RompeCorazones: Teorias Del Amor vol.1 (2007) - Various Artists compilation

Singles[link]

• "Anacaona(2006)
• "Se Desvive Por Ella" (R&B) feat. Jadiel (2007)
• "Se Desvive Por Ella" (reggaeton version) Feat. Jadiel (2007)
• "Se Desvive Por Ella" (remix) feat. Jadiel, Ivy Queen (2007/08)
• "Dos Amantes, Dos Amigos" feat Mario VI (2008)
• "Callejero" feat. Jay V & Cano (2008)
• "Striper" (2008)
• "Striper" (Remix) feat. Daddy Yankee, Jowell & Randy (2008)
• "Se Le Ve" (2009)
• "Me Faltas Tu" Ft. Juno (2011)

Other Collaborations[link]

• "Dime St Tu Pienses En Mi" (remix) Nicky Jam feat La Sista
• "Te Vi" (On the album Los Mero Mero)
• "Fruty Loop" feat Tony Lenta
• "Se Le Ve" (remix) ft Yomo

References[link]

Irka Mateo is a Dominican singer songwriter and world music artist. Her artistic career has been one of breaking boundaries and embracing people’s deepest humanity especially through their music.

Her artistic sensibility incubated in Spain, France, Brazil, Canada, the United States and her native Dominican Republic. In the late 1970s and early 1980s she lived in Europe (Spain and France) where she immersed herself in the emerging world music scene. In the late 1980s she moved to Canada, where she worked with the best artists in that country performing to enthusiastic audiences regularly at the Montreal Jazz Festival and numerous other events and venues. It was also in Montreal that she recorded the Spanish-language version of Sucre Amer, a song in defense of Haitian sugar cane workers – the recording that led to her opening for the Fugees when they played in Haiti in 1996.

In 1998 she returned to Kiskeya (Hispaniola). Along with performing in the country and the wider Caribbean she spent the next 10 years immersing herself in the islands its folk music; founded on popular religious celebrations and Taino culture. The result is music much more infused with Afro and Taíno traditions. This work also lead Mateo to co-founding Guabancex, Wind and Water Society dedicated to the popularization and preservation of native culture. A key moment in any Irka Mateo performance is when she dons a native headdress during the singing of Anacaona—a song that is essentially a passion play of the Taino queen hanged by the Spanish Conquistadors.

It was during this period she also collaborated with Luis Días (composer) on his recording EL TERROR EN VIVO (with Transporte Urbano)

Along with this field work in the DR, Mateo has toured widely performing in concerts and festivals in the Caribbean and Latin America; including a performance in front of 100,000 people in Mexico City.

In 2008, Grammy Award winning producer, Daniel Blumenfield, of GoodandEvil, Inc. (Sex Mob's Sexotica; The Klezmatics' Wonder Wheel) discovered Mateo music and brought her to New York. She has since released the album Anacaona (in 2009).

References[link]

New Notes about Taíno Music and its Influence on Contemporary Dominican Life By Lynne Guitar http://www.centrelink.org/GuitarTainoMusicEN.html

Interview on NY1 Noticias: August 2009 [1]

The Dominican musician, composer, and musicologist Irka Mateo: http://www.allempires.net/music-of-the-tainos_topic21589_page1.html

LAS INVESTIGACIONES FOLKLÓRICAS DE http://www.latinartmuseum.com/irka_mateo.htm

Radio Magico Review http://radiomagico.com/radio-magico-news/16-jazz-fusion/499-irka-mateo-qanacaonaq.html

Review of Anacaona http://arrozconbeans.com/?tag=irka-mateo

Brazilian beat hits Bam Boo :[FIN Edition]. (1990, August 10). Toronto Star,p. E16.

KATHRYN GREENAWAY. (1995, June 27). Sucre Amer: how sweet it isn't; CD by Quebec foursome to aid exploited Haitians :[FINAL Edition]. The Gazette,p. D.6.

Encuentro Irka Mateo y Voces News http://www.vocesnews.com/irka-mateo/

External links[link]

• irkamateo.net [2]
• irkamateo myspace [3]