A Different National Anthem, Before The Nation Was Ready For It
"I did it to show my appreciation to America ... I love this country." Jose Feliciano, on singing the national anthem his way. His performance at the 1968 World Series sparked a national controversy.
The NFL continues to wrangle with its issue of players taking a knee during the national anthem, but this isn't the first time The Star Spangled Banner has collided with politics, race and a major sporting event.
In 1968, a rising Puerto Rican pop star, José Feliciano, was asked to sing the anthem before Game 5 of the World Series. The St. Louis Cardinals were playing the Detroit Tigers in Tiger Stadium.
At that time, with his cover of The Doors' . The world seemed to be changing very quickly; there was a lot of focus on what media was calling the Youth Movement. It was a good time to showcase new talent.
