Felipe Luciano is best known as a community activist and founder of the Young Lords Party is the late 1960's in New York City. He was the first Puerto Rican news anchor on a major network (WNBC). As a member of the Original Last Poets he was instrumental in the genesis of Spoken Word and rap music.

Born and raised in New York City, Felipe Luciano has done pioneering work in fields ranging from community activism to media. As founder and chairman of the Young Lords Party, Luciano’s commitment to community empowerment, ethnic pride, and civil rights was pivotal in changing the color of politics, culture, and society from New York to Puerto Rico. In addition to his community activism, Luciano is highly accomplished in television, radio, music, poetry, journalism and stage productions. He was the first Puerto Rican news anchor on a major network (WNBC); and as a member of the Original Last Poets he was instrumental in the genesis of Spoken Word and rap music. Today, Luciano is a frequent adviser to state and local government leaders and corporations on issues affecting the Latino community, coalition building, and diversity. He recently served as a commissioner on the New York City Mayor's Task Force on Police and Community Relations. He co-hosted Fox TV's Good Day Street Talk and produced for CUNY TV. He is a featured journalist for such New York newspapers and magazines as the New York Daily News and the New York Times. Luciano is also president and founder of Luciano Productions, Inc., continuing his Spoken Word and creative work in Latin music with Tropijazz and RMM Records. He is the recipient of several Emmys, an ACE Award, and a Silurian Award.

Appearing as a PASS THE TORCH speaker, Felipe Luciano tells of his revelations for the future of Latinos and African Americans in America. His prescription is to follow the three fundamentals of "ILO" – Ideology, Leadership, and Organization. With the mastery of these three things, Luciano insists, "it's ours for the taking."

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BROADCASTING

Conversations with Felipe Luciano
WLIB 1190 AM (Radio), New York
Monday-Thursday, 10 AM – 12 PM

Street Talk
Fox 5 Network, New York (TV).

The NewsCenter
NBC, NY Reporter, 1979-1980 (TV Series).





Select Last Poets Discography (1970-1997)
The Last Poets, Douglas, 1970.
This Is Madness, Douglas, 1971.
Chastisement, Douglas, 1972.
Hustlers Convention, w/Jalal Nuriddin recording as "Lightnin' Rod," Douglas, 1973.
At Last, Blue Thumb, 1974.
Delights of the Garden, Celluloid, 1975.
Jazzoetry, Celluloid, 1975.
Oh! My People, Celluloid, 1985.
Freedom Express, Celluloid, 1991.
Be Bop Or Be Dead, Umar Bin Hassan w/Abiodun Oyewole, Axiom/Island, 1993.
25 Years, Abiodun Oyewole w/ Umar Bin Hassan, Rykodisc, 1994.
Holy Terror, Rykodisc, 1994.
Time Has Come, Mouth Almighty/Mercury, 1997.


Filmography
Right On! – The Original Last Poets, 1971.
Badge 373, Paramount Pictures, 1973.
Salsa: Latin Pop Music in the Cities, 1988.


Books Written ABOUT The Last Poets:
The Last Poets: Vibes From the Scribes: Selected Poems by J. Nuriddin and S. El Hadi (Africa World Press, 1992)
On A Mission: Selected Poems and a History of the Last Poets by Abiodun Oyewole, Umar Bin Hassan written with music journalist Kim Green (Henry Holt & Company, 1996)