The Street Buzz

William Anthony Colon (born 28 April 1950) is a Puerto Rican salsa music icon. First and foremost a trombonist, Colon also sings, writes, produces and acts. He is also involved in municipal politics in New York City.

Willie Colon was born in the Bronx, New York, to Puerto Rican parents. He picked up the trumpet from a young age, and later switched to trombone, inspired by the all-trombone sound of Mon Rivera and -at least during a specific period in the 1960s that of Eddie Palmieri. He was bullied in his neighborhood because of this, and had to defend himself quite often from gang members. In a way similar to Bob Marley’s, he gained a reputation for being tough and fierce in combat, even if his height could put him in a disadvantage (Willie is 5ft. 6in. -168 cm- tall). He spent some summers at his maternal grandmother’s farm in Manati, Puerto Rico, where he claims he learned the discipline and tenacity to thrive on his own, as well as a strong love for Puerto Rico that shaped his later political views (he’s a strong supporter of Puerto Rican independence and Latin American political unity, and theoretically a liberal, even if later disappointments with the Democratic Party (United States) of the United States moved him to endorse Republican candidates.

He was signed to Fania Records at 15 and recorded his first album at age 17, which ultimately sold more than 300,000 copies. Due to fortuitous events (he had no singer for his band at recording time since his first candidate was killed in a street fight), the main record producer at Fania at the time, Johnny Pacheco, recommended Hector Lavoe to him. This led to a very successful collaboration between the two, which ended in 1973 when Willie quit touring to raise a family and pursue various business ventures (including computer programming) to guarantee a steady income at home. Willie did produce some of Lavoe’s solo records afterwards.

Beyond his skills on the trombone, he rapidly excelled as a composer, arranger, and singer, and eventually as a producer and director. Combining elements of jazz, rock, and salsa, his diverse work incorporates the rhythms of traditional Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Brazilian music.

He went on to have many successful collaborations with salsa musicians and singers such as Ismael Miranda, Celia Cruz and Soledad Bravo, and singer-songwriter Ruben Blades.

Colon holds the record for all time sales, creating 40 productions that have sold over 30 million records worldwide. His work has won fifteen gold records, five platinum records, and has been nominated for 11 Grammy awards.

In September 2004, Colon received the Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award from the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Over the course of his career, he has collaborated with musical greats such as the Fania All Stars, Hector LaVoe, Ruben Blades, David Byrne, and Celia Cruz. Siembra, his record with Ruben Blades, was the best selling album for its genre.

Beyond devoting himself to creating art, Colon has worked hard to preserve and vitalize art, serving as the chair of the Association of Hispanic Arts. His activism does not stop there. Colon has been especially active working on human rights, immigration, and environmental issues.

In addition to serving as a visiting professor and receiving honorary degrees at various universities, in 1991, Colon received Yale University’s Chubb Fellowship, an honor that he shares with Presidents Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush, among others.

Colon currently serves as NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s representative to El Museo del Barrio and as the mayors liaison to the Latin Media Entertainment Commission (to which Robert DeNiro and Jennifer Lopez serve as the celebrity chairs). Willie’s base of operations is in New Rochelle, New York.

Here are some videos which he wrote, produced, sang or did all three.

El Gran Varon. Willie Colon
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJSSMsOD3WE 338 280]

Ruben Blades y Willie Colon-Pedro Navaja
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-wV91-MrqI 338 280]

Willie Colon - La Murga
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfmg6g4d_0M 338 280]

Ruben Blades y Willie Colon-Buscando Guayaba
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gzsa1bq_IPs 338 280]

Idilio. Willie Colon
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYvhHmFmcYk 338 280]

Gitana. Willie Colon.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-dIHrarztI 338 280]

Celia Cruz y Willie Colon - “Pun Pun Catalu”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXHtnoen6XY 338 280]

Willie Colon y Ruben Blades - Plastico
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azvQdIIJnY0 338 280]

Willie Colon y Ruben Blades - Ligia Elena
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8frvQyudX4 338 280]

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