Johnny Colon is an American

salsa Salsa most often refers to: * Salsa (food), a variety of sauces used as condiments * Salsa music, a popular style of Latin American music * Salsa (dance), a Latin dance associated with Salsa music Salsa or SALSA may also refer to: Arts and ent ...

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 George Goldner (February 9, 1918 – April 15, 1970) was an American record label owner, record producer and promoter who played an important role in establishing the popularity of rock and roll in the 1950s, by recording and promoting many ...

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 East is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth. Etymology As in other languages, the word is formed from the fact that eas ...

. 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