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 File links The following pages link to this file: Willie Colón ...
Willie Colón (born 28 April 1950) April 28 is the 118th day of the year (119th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 247 days remaining. ...
1950 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...
Willie Colón, Bronx-born of Puerto Rican grandparents, has fused his musical talent, his passion for humanity, and his community and political activism into an extraordinary, multifaceted career.
His achievements in all his activities are widely recognized. As musician, composer, arranger, singer, and trombonist, as well as producer and director, Colón still holds the all time record for sales, he has created 40 productions that have sold more than thirty million records worldwide. His collaboration with Ruben Blades, "Siembra", is the biggest selling album of all time for this genre. His collaboration with Hector LaVoe was the milestone that spread this fusion of tropical/urban music throughout Latin America. He is a strong catalog sale artist, whose songs are included in almost every Salsa artist’s repertoire.
Two recent hit TV-soaps, Demasiado Corazón and Perro Amor, used his recordings/compositions as theme songs. He has also won 11 Grammy nominations, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Grammy, fifteen gold and five platinum records, and has collaborated with such musical greats as the Fania All Stars, Héctor LaVoe, Rubén Blades, David Byrne, and Celia Cruz.
His music, which has powerfully influenced modern Latin jazz, reflects both rhythmic traditional lyrics and the cries of farewell and hope from a new generation pressured to abandon their homeland to congregate in urban America. William Anthony Colón Román (his full name) learned the lyrics from his Abuela (grandmother) Antonia, as she rocked him to sleep during his childhood in the heart of the Puerto Rican Bronx. Her strong beliefs and personality also powerfully influenced his devotion to his cultural roots. During his musical and cultural odyssey from the Bronx to the world scene, he moved from a fascination with the tropical paradise of his ancestors to the stark street images of rebellious youth and social struggle and finally to a mature fusion of joy and injustice, beauty and suffering, romance and realism. He has become an articulate and responsible public figure -- clever at injecting political messages into his music without becoming overbearing. He has been a visiting professor and lecturer at many prestigious colleges and universities.
As a community leader, he has won both local affection and national recognition. Colón, now 55, first emerged as a leader and organizer at age 16; he has since been a civil rights, community and political activist as well as Chair of the Association of Hispanic Arts, a member of the Latino Commission on AIDS, a member of the board of the United Nations Immigrant Foundation, President of the Arthur Schomburg Coalition for a Better New York, a current member of the Board of Directors of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, a founding member of the New Rochelle (NY) Hispanic Advisory Board, founding member of the New Rochelle Judicial System Committee and various other projects and organizations too numerous to mention.
In 1993 he participated in the Presidential Inaugural Ceremonies, and in the following year, President Clinton invited Colón to become a member of the Presidents Committee on the Arts and Humanities. He declined this distinction in order to run in New York States 17th Congressional District primary.
In 1991 he was awarded Yale University's CHUBB Fellowship, a political recognition he shares with the late John F. Kennedy, Moshe Dyane, Jesse Jackson, Ronald Reagan, and George Bush, to mention a few.
In 1995 he became the first minority to serve on the prestigious ASCAP National Board of Trustees and is now a member of the ASCAP FOUNDATION. In 1996 he was nominated as one of the 100 most Influential U.S. Hispanics by Hispanic Business Magazine.
In 1997 Willie Colón became a spokesperson for the international relief and development organization CARE and visited sites in Bolivia on their behalf.
In late 1997- early 1998 Colón appeared in the recurring role of Feliciano Pintor, a Puerto Rican DEA agent in the TV Azteca soap, "Demasiado Corazón." Willie’s new CD release also titled "Demasiado Corazón" (Azteca Music) has been climbing the charts in Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico ( currently available for U.S. and European distribution.)
In November 1998 Colón & Blades made history again with the Amnesty International Concert at la Carlota Airport in Caracas Venezuela where more than 141,000 tickets were sold. In 1999 he opened Salón 21 in Mexico City, one of the finest grand live music halls in the Americas. On February 12th in collaboration with the United Nation's women's organization UNIFEM, and the Mexican sister organization SEMILLAS, Willie hosted the tremendously successful International Women's Day fund raiser.
In 1999, Colón was ask to be part of the Jubilee 2000 Delegation to the Vatican along with Randolph Robinson of Trans Africa, Harvard economist Jeffrey Sachs, Bono from U2 and Quincy Jones. This initiative received Pope John Paul II’s endorsement and later prompted President Clinton to forgive the US portion of the third world indebted countries. In November of 1999 he became Dr. William A. Colón when Hartford CT’s Trinity College conferred the degree of Doctor Of Music for "The Art of Courage", a recognition given to artists who have used their art to make political change.
In 2000, he was chosen to perform in Mexico City’s El Zócalo plaza, to celebrate Easter (Sabado de Gloria) before a capacity crowd of over 100,000. Colón also appeared as the headliner to Puerto Rico’s Regatta 2000 last May drawing a crowd of over 125,000 in Old San Juan. In Mexico City, he also wrote and produced a sitcom TV pilot titled "Willie’s Café".
Willie Colón was also involved in the campaigns to end the Military occupation and practice bombing of the Puerto Rican island municipality of Vieques. It was through Willie's urging that Governor Pataki visited Vieques and pledged his support.
On April 16, 2001, Willie received the EPA’s "Environmental Quality Award" from EPA Director Gov. Christie Whitman. This is the EPA’s highest award for people that do not work for the Agency.
Willie Colón ran in New York City’s 2001 Democratic primary as a Candidate for Public Advocate of the City of New York, garnering a respectable 101,394 votes. After that primary, Colón endorsed then candidate Betsy Gotbaum for Public Advocate , who was handily elected. Willie Colón was also the first prominent Latino to endorse Michael Bloomberg for Mayor. He also composed and produced Bloomberg’s Spanish campaign jingle.
In 2002, Willie Colón was retained by NYC & COMPANY (The City of New York Convention and Visitor’s Bureau) as a Senior Advisor and Consultant, he was also appointed as Mayor Bloomberg’s representative to El Museo Del Barrio. On October 28, Willie Colón was received by President of the Dominican Republic, Hipólito Mejia and honored with the Order of The Hawk by Lieutenant General and Secretary of The Armed Forces, José Miguel Soto Jiménez.
On May 3 2003, Ruben & Willie reunited for the Siembra 25th Anniversary Concert. They packed Hiram Bithorn Stadium with 27,000 fans who turned out for this 3 hour concert show that included many of their early hits together. This concert was also critically acclaimed by the press for the excellent musical performance by Willie & Ruben and their All Star Orchestra that was composed of members of both Ruben and Willies present and former band members. On October 5, 2003 Willie Colón met with Ecuadorian Vice President Dr. Alfredo Palacios
ON October 28th, 2003, Mayor Michael Bloomberg kicked off the Latin Media Entertainment Commission appointing Willie Colón as his Liasion to the Commission, Robert Deniro as Celebrity Chairman and Jennifer Lopez as Celebrity Chairwoman.
On February 17th 2004 Willie Colón received the Metro New York Better Business Bureau's Public service Award. On February 27th 2004 Willie was received by the Peruvian Congress and Vice President Carlos A. Infantas Fernández. He was also feted by the Mayor Alex Coury of El Callao, Lima.
On June 3, 2004, Lehman College conferred the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters on Salsa Legend/Political Activist Willie Colón in recognition of his compositions, poems and essays and the effect his work has had on millions of Latinos throughout the world.
On June 26, 2004 Willie Colón was inducted to the Bronx Walk of Fame his name was placed on the corner of Grand Concourse and 161st Street in front of Bronx Borough Hall.
September 1, 2004, Willie Colón receives the Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award from Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences.
Along with all these commitments, Willie Colón gives priority to spending time with his wife, Julia, and sons, and enjoys indulging in such other interests as boating, aviation and computers. He currently hosts a website www.williecolon.com and a Cyber Forum WILLIE COLÓN FORUM.
Through his work, positive message and example Willie Colón has developed into an internationally respected socio-political voice, equally at home on the entertainment or political scene, whether it be New York City, Latin America, the Vatican and the world.
Also see
WORKS list of famous Puerto Ricans in alphabetical order by last names, where applicable. ...
Produced by Willie Colón
Co-produced ...................................X
Grammy Nomination .......................%
Gold ................................................O
Platinum .......................................... !
Other Artists Productions - About HECTOR LAVOE Special Projects
Demasiado Corazón Y Vuelve Otra Vez
Tras La Tormenta O%!
The Best II (Compilation) O!
Hecho En Puerto Rico O!
The Best (Compilation) O!
Honra Y Cultura
American Color %
Top Secrets/Altos Secretos O !
The Winners (Vocs Celia Cruz) %
She Don't Know ...(English Dance 12) O
Set Fire To Me (English Dance 12) O
Especial No. 5 %
Criollo %
Tiempo Pa' Matar O
Corazon Guerrero %
The Last Fight (Vocs Ruben Blades)
La Historia Musical... O
Canciones De Solar... (Vocs Ruben Blades) O
45 Minutes (Compilation) O
Vigilante
Deja Vu (Compilation) O
Fantasmas O !
Solo O
Siembra (Vocs Ruben Blades) O !
Doble Energia
Celia y Willie (Vocs Celia Cruz) O
Only They Could Have... (Vocs Celia Cruz) O
Metiendo Mano (Vocs Ruben Blades) O
There Goes The Neighborhood (Vocs Mon Rivera)
Willie (Compilation) O
The Good, Bad, Ugly %
Asalto Navideno II (Vocs Hector LaVoe) O!
Lo Mato (Vocs Hector LaVoe) O
El Juicio (Vocs Hector LaVoe) O
Asalto Navideno (Vocs Hector LaVoe) O !
The Big Break (Vocs Hector LaVoe) O
Guisando X
Cosa Nuestra (Vocs Hector LaVoe) O ! X
The Hustler (Vocs Hector LaVoe) X
El Malo (Vocs Hector LaVoe) X
(As Producer)
POEMAS DE BERNEDETTI Tania Libertad
`` Los Olores Del Amor Amilcar Boscan
``The Rose Tattoo(Tatuaje..) David Bryne
``I Don't Ever Feel I'm Alone Chaz Jankel
``Strikes Back Hector LaVoe
``Sophy En NY Sophy
``Caribe Soledad Bravo
``Maestra Vida II Ruben Blades
``Maestra Vida I Ruben Blades
``Felipe Pirela Hector LaVoe
``Comedia Hector LaVoe
``El Sabio Hector LaVoe
``De Ti Depende Hector LaVoe
``Angelitos Negros WNET TV/FANIA RECORDS
``La Voz Hector LaVoe
``Afecto y Carino Ernie Agosto
``La Conspiracion Ernie Agosto
WILLIE'S CAFÉ (Mexico City 1998) TV Sitcom Pilot
DEMSIADO CORAZÓN (Mexico City 1997) TV Soap - AZTECA TV HISTORIA MUSICAL DE WILLIE COLÓN (1997 Mexico City) An anthology of Willie Colón's hits with stage dancer
ARTHUR A. SCHOMBURG BANDA DEL MUNICIPIO (NYC 1995) A Brass Band in the tradition of the old Municipal Danza Bands of Puerto Rico, assembled for the 1995 New York City Puerto Rican Parade.
ASALTO NAVIDENO LIVE (1993) A Christmas Concert- Show with script, scenery and choreography recorded for TV at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente, Bayamon, Puerto Rico. San Juan, Puerto Rico.
CANTO A MI TIERRA (1990) Concert-Show withscript, scenery and choreography Centro de Bellas Artes San Juan Puerto Rico.
HBO film score ``ESPERANZA
``MILLER MUSIC MACHINE: Jingle
``MAQUINA MUSICAL DE MILLER: Jingle
``UNA SOLA CASA: (1981) Concert-Show broadcastlive from Centro de Bellas Artes San Juan, Puerto Rico to five Latinamerican countries via satellite.
``BAQUINE DE LOS ANGELITOS NEGROS: Salsa ballet movie for WNET TV New York
``Infinity Factory: Children's soundtrack for WGBH TV Boston
``Malta Schaeffer Jingle
EXPERIENCE AS TALENT:
Title Role Director/Studio
Film
SALSA Self Kenny Ortega - Cannon
THE LAST FIGHT Joaquin Vargas Fred Williamson, Dir.
VIGILANTE Rico Melendez Bill Lustig, Dir.
IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU Mayor of NYC Andy Bergman
Television
MIAMI VICE ``Cuba Libre Armando Rojas NBC LA INTRUSA Self Radio Caracas TV (Spanish Soap Opera
Television Commercials
``Papo" Schaeffer Beer
``La Diferente H&B Malt Liquor ``Reunion II Miller Brewing
``La Diferente H&B Malt Liquor ``Reunion II Miller Brewing
``New Years Party Corona Beer ``Reunion I Miller Brewing
``Dance Contest Corona Beer ``New York Miller Brewing
Public Service
``Vaccination Now" Print Childrens Defense Fund
``Museo Del Barrio" Tv Museo Del Barrio
``Pre-Natal Care" Radio Columbia Presbyterian Hospital
``Boricua First" Tv/Radio Ntl Puerto Rican Coalition
``Martin Luther King Radio Narwood Productions
``A Special Place Tv New York State Adoption Svcs ``Hurricane Relief" Tv/Radio/Concert Hurricane Relief
``AIDS Prevention Tv Center For Disease Control
``Tuberculosis Prevention Tv NYS Health Department
``Earth Quake Relief" Tv Univision
``A World of Difference Tv CBS TV
``Voter Registration Tv/Radio State of New York
``Summer Jobs Tv/Radio NYS Summer jobs Program
External links - Willie Colón's website (http://www.williecolon.com/bio.htm)
- Biography and discography (http://www.theiceberg.com/artist/29041/willie_colon.html)
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