Today in Mambo: part two of our series on trombone player, composer and bandleader Willie Colon. This episode, we zoom in on the years 1971 to 1973 of Colon’s musical career.
Colon, a second-generation Puerto Rican immigrant, already had his own band at the age of 14. He was given the trumpet at school in New York, but he switched later to the trombone, and stuck with it. The instrument featured prominently in his band.
We listen to several albums today, one of which is ‘Wanted by the FBI’, where we distinctly hear influences from West Africa, Panama and Brazil. The band created a kind of ‘bad boys’ image, which was meant as a joke. There was some controversy though about the album they released in 1973, which had crime in the street as theme.
Willie Colon has several classics to his name, of which we’ll play you ‘Aguanile’, ‘La Banda’ and ‘Cantemos’.
Playlist
1 Timbalero
Willie Colon
2 No Me Llores Más
Willie Colon
3 Sonero Mayor
Willie Colon
4 Aguanile
Willie Colon
5 La Banda
Willie Colon
6 Cantemos
Willie Colon
7 Ghana’e
Willie Colon
8 Calle Luna Calle Sol
Willie Colon
9 To Tiene Su Final
Willie Colon
10 Guajira Ven
Willie Colon
11 Vo So
Willie Colon
