Johnny Colon is an American
salsa musician, leader of the Johnny Colon Orchestra and founder of the East Harlem Music School, also known as a major contributor to the
boogaloo
Boogaloo or bugalú (also: shing-a-ling, Latin boogaloo, Latin R&B) is a music genre, genre of Latin music and dance which was popular in the United States in the 1960s. Boogaloo originated in New York City mainly by stateside Puerto Ricans with ...
sound of the 1960s.
Colon was born in
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
to parents of
Puerto Rican heritage. He wrote most of the Orchestra's tunes, sings, plays percussion, piano and trombone, and first found success in the world of salsa with his 1967 debut album, ''Boogaloo Blues''.
[Saving the Children, to a Boom-Chicka Beat]
''New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', May 29, 1994. The record was produced by
George Goldner and sold around three million copies worldwide.
He released five albums over the period 1967-72, and in 1968 founded the
East Harlem Music School.
[ His 2008 album "Keeping It Real" features the American pop songbook.
]
Discography
*''Boogaloo Blues'' ( Cotique Records, 1967)
*''Boogaloo '67'' (Cotique, 1967)
*''Move Over'' (Cotique, 1968)
*''Portrait of Johnny'' (Cotique, 1971)
*''Hot! Hot! Hot!: Caliente de Vicio'' (Cotique, 1972)
*''Tierra Va a Temblar'' (Cotique, 1975)
*''Johnny Colon's Disco Hits: Soul & Latin'' (Cotique, 1976)
*''Keeping it Real'' (2008)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Colon, Johnny
Musicians from New York (state)
American male trombonists
American people of Puerto Rican descent
Living people
1942 births
21st-century trombonists
21st-century American male musicians