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Biografie
Colón’s earliest musical excursions began playing the trumpet aged 12, however he soon switched to the trombone having been inspired by the sounds of Mon Rivera and Barry Rogers. After signing to Fania Records in 1967, Colón made his recording debut with “El Malo”, which sold over 300,000 copies. The salsa musician alongside Hector Lavoe earned hits with the singles “Jazzy” and “I Wish I Had a Watermelon”, which became noted for being some of the earliest Latin music to feature the “New York Sound”.
Colón’s and Lavoe’s fruitful relationship lasted until 1975, when Willie was the director of the Latin Jazz All Stars and studying music theory, composition and orchestration. It was around this time Colón first worked with Rubén Blades on the album “The Good, the Bad, the Ugly” and invited the singer to become a full-member of his band. Around the same time Colón worked with singer Celia Cruz, producing the albums “Only They Could Have Done This Album” in 1977 and the duet album “Celia & Willie” in 1981.
The late ‘70s and ‘80s were marked by winning a series of respected awards and accolades including being voted Musician, Producer and Trombone Player of the Year by Latin New York in 1978, winning Musician of the Year and Album of the Year for “Fantasmas” in 1981 also by Latin New York, and earning a Grammy Award for his album “Canciones del Solar de los Aburridos” in 1982. The latter of which marked the last album Colón and Blades amiably worked on and spawned the hit singles “Tiburon”, “Ligia Elena” and “Te Estan Buscando”.
Towards the tail-end of the ‘80s Colón formed the band Legal Alien, later releasing the albums “Color Americano” in 1990 and “Honra y Cultura” in 1991. In 1993 the revered musician recorded “Hecho en Puerto” with an all-star line-up including Yomo Toro, David Byrne and Bobby Valentin. Colón has since released the albums “Experiencia” in 2004, “The Player” in 2007, and “El Malo, Vol. 2: Prisoneros del Mambo” in 2008. In response to his extensive output, Colón has earned 11 Grammy nominations, a CHUBB fellowship from Yale University –the Ivy League’s most prestigious award.
Live-Bewertungen
It’s pretty profound that music can be evocative of places one has never been. I’ve never been to New York City but the music of Bronx born, Puerto Rican musician Willie Colón sounds more like the city that never sleeps than anything Jay Z’s released in about five years. It becomes especially profound that it’s that evocative when one takes into account that not only is it in a language that I fundamentally cannot understand and probably never will, but it’s a genre that was created out of a mix of Cuban jazz, along with Puerto Rican and Colombian folk music. Yet still, I listen to it and it takes me to the city of Colón’s birth somehow, doubly so when the man’s work is performed live. This must stem from Colón’s compositions; their earthy rhythms could only come from him, and could only be inspired by his upbringing. Like the best kind of live music, it feels spontaneous, while still being regimented, as if everyone on stage is improvising while on exactly the same wave length as each other. The performance is completed by Colón himself switching between singing lead vocals and ripping it up on his trombone. It’s pretty stunning to watch, and a lot more accessible than one might assume on the surface. Take a chance with this, you might just stumble across something very special.
william-howard-2
William Anthony Colón better known by his stage name of Willie Colon is the Puerto rican born, New York raised musician who found his genre in salsa after starting a career as a trombonist. There was only one position onstage for Willie and that is directly in the centre where he is able to enthuse and excite his delighted fanbase.
A natural showman who encapsulates the genre of salsa and its country of origin with a lively and colourful live show that has grown dramatically in popularity since he first released an album way back in 1968. At the age of 65, he can still move like an artist of half his age and it is clear performing is keeping him young as he joyfully moves around the stage in order to reach all of his fans. He has a solid percussion section joining him this evening which add a richness to his music and discography. He performs all the much loved hits and by the finale it sounds as though the crowd would have enjoyed a second half.
sean-ward
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