Johnny Colon
Encyclopedia
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
sound of the 1960s.
Colon was born in New York City
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. He released five albums over the period 1967-72, and in 1968 founded the East Harlem Music School, which still exists. His latest jazz album, "Keeping It Real" features the American pop songbook .
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
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
Boogaloo or bugalú is a genre of Latin music and dance that was popular in the United States in the 1960s. Boogaloo originated in New York City among teenage Cubans, Puerto Ricans and other groups. The style was a fusion of popular African American R&B and soul with mambo and son montuno...
sound of the 1960s.
Colon was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to parents of Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
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. He released five albums over the period 1967-72, and in 1968 founded the East Harlem Music School, which still exists. His latest jazz 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)