Salsa Legend Cheo Feliciano Dies in Car Crash

VOA News
17 April 2014 (9:15AM)

Police say Salsa legend Jose Luis "Cheo" Feliciano, 78, has died in a car crash in Puerto Rico.

Officials say the singer was driving alone in his jaguar when he hit an electricity pole before sunrise, Thursday.

Not to be confused with the younger Jose Feliciano, a famous Puerto Rican guitarist and singer with a string of popular hits, including his rendition of the The Doors' "Light by Fire,'' Cheo Feliciano was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico and dropped out of school at 17 to train with top salsa orchestras in New York, according to Billboard.com.

Cheo Feliciano, a member of the popular group Fania All Stars, was honored with the Latin Grammy Awards' Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. He is survived by his wife Coco and four sons.

Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla has declared three days of mourning in his honor.

Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.