Starting to play the trumpet at the age of 12, Colón switched to the trombone two years later. Making his recording debut in 1967, for Al Santiago's Futura label, Colón became a victim of misfortune when the label folded. Colón was much more successful when he signed with Johnny Pacheco's Fania label. When his vocalist failed to make Colón's first session for the label, Pacheco suggested Hector Lavoe as a replacement. The collaboration proved fruitful when two singles from Colón's first two albums (El Malo, Guisando) — "Jazzy" and "I Wish I Had a Watermelon" — became hits. Lavoe remained a vital member of Colón's band until the mid-'70s when an increased drug addiction caused him to miss or show up late for several gigs. Although their partnership formally ended in 1975, Colón and Lavoe continued to work together. Lavoe's last album, Strikes Back, released in 1987, was produced by Colón.
In 1975, Colón balanced his schedule as director of the Latin Jazz All Stars with studies in music theory, composition, and orchestration. His increased knowledge paid off quickly. In 1978, Colón was named Musician, Producer, and Trombone Player of the Year in a readers poll conducted by Latin New York. Three years later, he received an award as Musician of the Year and his album Fantasmas was named Album of the Year. Colón continued to garner acclaim when his album Canciones del Solar de los Aburridos received a Grammy award in 1982.
Although they met backstage before a concert in Panama in 1969, Colón and Blades didn't begin collaborating until five years later. While working on the album The Good-The Bad-The Ugly, Colón asked Blades to sing on the Blades-penned tune "El Cazanguero," which reflected on Blades' experiences as a law student working in a Panamanian prison. The session was so satisfying that Blades became a full-time member of Colón's band following the departure of Lavoe. Their 1978 album Siembra became the top-selling album in Fania's catalog. Despite their success, Blades severely quarreled with label president Jerry Mascucci over money. Although Colón recorded two solo albums — El Baquine de Angelitos Negros in 1977 and Solo in 1979 — and Blades recorded a solo album, Maestra Vida, in 1980, their solo work failed to match the commercial success of their joint efforts.
In 1981, the two musicians resumed their partnership with Blades playing coro on Colón's solo album Fantasmas. The following year, they collaborated on the Grammy-winning album Canciones del Solar de los Aburridos, which yielded the hits singles "Tiburon," "Ligia Elena," and "Te Estan Buscando." Their partnership again proved short-lived as Colón and Blades split up after working on the film The Last Fight. The split was far from amiable and the two musicians continued to feud until reuniting for a concert at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan in March 1992. Despite collaborating on the album Tras la Tormenta in 1995, Colón and Blades recorded their parts separately. Following a reunion concert at the Hollywood Bowl in 1997, Colón and Blades performed a series of concerts together.
In the late '80s, Colón formed a new band, Legal Aliens, with younger musicians. Signing with Sony, Colón and the band recorded Color Americano in 1990 and Honra y Cultura in 1991. Two years later, Colón recorded Hecho en Puerto Rico with an all-star band featuring ex-members of the Fania All-Stars, Papo Lucca and Bobby Valentin. Since leaving Sony over a lack of promotional support, Colón continued to remain active.
Canto a Borinquen
Willie Colón Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
porque en ti nací
y en ti fue que vi,
el resplandor primero.
Yo te soy sincero
una enardecida
serás bendecida
aunque en ti moriré
desde la otra vida
pero yo te cantaré
Borinquen desde la otra vida.
Tierra hospitalaria
esa es Borinquen.
Tierra de mi Edén
oye mis plegaria.
Tierra necesaria
¡oh! garza dormida,
mi canción se inspira
no te ha de olvidar
y yo te voy a cantar
desde la otra vida,
y yo te voy a cantar
Borinquen desde la otra vida.
Al morirme un día
yo no he de olvidarte
y yo voy a cantarte
toda mi alegría.
En mis agonías
Borinquen querida,
mi alma aturdida
no te olvidará
y yo te voy a cantar
desde la otra vida,
y te voy a cantar
Borinquen desde la otra vida.
Hoy a dedicarte
recuerdo te exijo,
Borinquen soy tu hijo
y no voy a olvidarte
por eso al dejarte
mi alma entristecida
no será perdida
tierra tropical
pero yo te he de cantar
desde la otra vida,
yo te he de cantar
Puerto Rico desde la otra vida
The song "Canto a Borinquen" by Willie Colón is a heartfelt tribute to his homeland of Borinquen, also known as Puerto Rico. The opening lines of the song declare the singer's love and pride for his birthplace. He states that he was born on this land and it was here that he witnessed his first glittering rays of hope. He acknowledges that he will die on this land as well, but he will continue to sing praises of Borinquen even in the afterlife.
The singer goes on to describe his beloved land as a hospitable place, a perfect Eden. He admits to offering prayers to Borinquen and vows never to forget it. He pledges to sing songs of praise for his homeland from the other life, even in death. The final lines of the song indicate that the singer is leaving his home now but he is dedicating the memory of Borinquen to his soul, and he will keep singing its song until his dying day.
The song is a powerful and emotional tribute to the singer's homeland. It is a declaration of love and gratitude for the land that shaped him into the man he became. The fact that he promises to continue singing in the afterlife is a testament to the everlasting love he has for his home.
Line by Line Meaning
Borinquen te quiero
I love you, Borinquen
porque en ti nací
because I was born in you
y en ti fue que vi, el resplandor primero.
and it was in you that I saw the first light
Yo te soy sincero
I am honest with you
una enardecida serás bendecida
you will be blessed with passionate devotion
aunque en ti moriré
even though I will die in you
pero yo te cantaré, desde la otra vida
but I will sing to you, from the other life
Tierra hospitalaria
Hospitable land
esa es Borinquen.
that is Borinquen.
Tierra de mi Edén
Land of my Eden
oye mis plegaria.
hear my prayer.
Tierra necesaria
Essential land
garza dormida, mi canción se inspira
sleeping egret, my song is inspired by you
no te ha de olvidar
I will not forget you
y yo te voy a cantar, desde la otra vida
and I will sing to you, from the other life
Al morirme un día
When I die one day
yo no he de olvidarte
I will not forget you
y yo voy a cantarte, toda mi alegría.
and I will sing to you, all of my happiness.
En mis agonías Borinquen querida
In my agony, beloved Borinquen
mi alma aturdida no te olvidará
my bewildered soul will not forget you
y yo te voy a cantar, desde la otra vida
and I will sing to you, from the other life
Hoy a dedicarte recuerdo te exijo,
Today I demand to dedicate a memory to you,
Borinquen soy tu hijo y no voy a olvidarte
Borinquen, I am your son and I will not forget you
por eso al dejarte mi alma entristecida
that's why, when I leave you, my soul will be sad
no será perdida tierra tropical
tropical land will not be lost
pero yo te he de cantar, desde la otra vida,
but I will sing to you, from the other life,
yo te he de cantar, Puerto Rico desde la otra vida
I will sing to you, Puerto Rico, from the other life
Writer(s): Ramos Flor Ramito Morales
Contributed by Miles B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.