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.
Ché Ché Colé
Willie Colón Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Al estilo Africano
Si no lo sabes bailar
Yo te enseñaré mi hermano
A ti te gusta la bomba
Y te gusta el baquiné
Para que goces ahora
Che che colé, (que bueno e')
Che che cofriza (muerto e' la risa)
Coqui saranga (ay viene la malanga)
Caca chilanga (viene de catanga)
Ayeiye, (a ver e' tu lo ve)
Che che colé, (que bueno e')
Che che cofriza, (muerto e' la risa)
Coqui saranga, (coqui saranga)
Caca chilanga, (caca chilanga)
Ayeiye, (a ver e' tu lo ve)
Oye tú sentado allá
Pareces venezolano
Ven aquí vamo' a bailar
Que todos somos hermanos
Lo bailan en Venezuela
Lo bailan en Panamá
Este ritmo es africano
Y donde quiera va' acabar
Che che colé
Che che cofriza
Coqui saranga
Caca chilanga
Ayeiye,
Che che colé
Che che cofriza
Coqui saranga
Caca chilanga
Ya yo sé que te gustó
Quieres bailarlo otra vez
Báilalo en la punta del pie
Y veras que bueno es
Ya yo sé que te gustó
Quieres bailarlo otra vez
Pues ponte bien los zapatos
Que los tienes al revés
Che che colé (que bueno e')
Che che cofriza (muerto e' la risa)
Coqui saranga (ay viene la malanga)
Caca chilanga (viene de catanga)
Ayeiye, (a ver e' tu lo ve)
Che che colé, (que bueno e')
Che che cofriza (muerto e' la risa)
Coqui saranga (ay viene la malanga)
Caca chilanga (viene de catanga)
Ayeiye, (a ver e' tu lo ve)
The lyrics of Willie Colón's Che Che Cole invites everyone to dance in the African style, with the singer offering to teach anyone who doesn't know how to dance. The song highlights the African influence on Latin American music, with references to the bomba and baquiné, which are Puerto Rican and Panamanian dance styles, respectively, but have African roots. The song encourages people from different countries and backgrounds to come together and dance as one, emphasizing the similarities between people from different places.
The repeated phrases "che che colé" and "che che cofriza" don't have any specific meaning, but they serve as a call-and-response between the singer and the audience, creating a chant-like quality to the song. The use of words like "coqui saranga" and "caca chilanga" adds to the rhythmic and playful nature of the song. Overall, Che Che Cole is a celebration of African roots in Latin American music and the joy of dancing together.
Line by Line Meaning
Vamos todos a bailar
Let's all go out and dance
Al estilo Africano
In the African style
Si no lo sabes bailar
If you don't know how to dance it
Yo te enseñaré mi hermano
I'll teach you, my brother
A ti te gusta la bomba
You like the bomba
Y te gusta el baquiné
And you like the baquine
Para que goces ahora
So you can enjoy it now
Africano es el bembé
The bembé is African
Che che colé, (que bueno e')
Che Che Colé, (how good it is)
Che che cofriza (muerto e' la risa)
Che Che Cofriza (death to laughter)
Coqui saranga (ay viene la malanga)
Coqui Saranga (here comes the malanga)
Caca chilanga (viene de catanga)
Caca Chilanga (comes from Catanga)
Ayeiye, (a ver e' tu lo ve)
Ayeiye, (let's see you do it)
Oye tú sentado allá
Hey you, sitting over there
Pareces venezolano
You look Venezuelan
Ven aquí vamo' a bailar
Come here, let's dance
Que todos somos hermanos
Because we are all brothers
Lo bailan en Venezuela
They dance it in Venezuela
Lo bailan en Panamá
They dance it in Panama
Este ritmo es africano
This rhythm is African
Y donde quiera va' acabar
And it will end up everywhere
Ya yo sé que te gustó
I already know you liked it
Quieres bailarlo otra vez
You want to dance it again
Báilalo en la punta del pie
Dance it on the tips of your toes
Y veras que bueno es
And you'll see how good it is
Pues ponte bien los zapatos
So put on your shoes properly
Que los tienes al revés
Because you have them on backwards
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Willie Colon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@isaacfrimpongopuni7754
Kye kye kule in the chorus is a song sung by Ghanaian 🇬🇭children when they're playing, possibly where Hector borrows his inspiration for this song. Respect to Hector, love his songs and melodies.
@lahurak
beautiful mix of cultures!
@oscararciniega3840
Haciéndole un homenaje a mi viejo que ya no está conmigo, él me contó que le tocó ir a ver a Héctor Lavoe, esto en Villa del mar en Veracruz México. Que afortunado fue, porque ahí conoció a mi mamá.
@ninoskatorres4707
afortunado de conocer a tu mama y al gran hector lavoe.
@angelicagamboa1524
Esto si es música para gozar!!!! Colombia 🇨🇴 y Latinoamerica lo mejor!!!
@danteneira4253
Héctor Lavoe no morirá jamás... junto a otro inmortal como Willie Colón nos dieron maravillosas canciones. Agradezco a Dios, haber cursado la secundaria en los 70'. Es difícel decir, qué canción es la mejor... para mí es Ah, Ah, No. Gracias por estos videos
@ioio8687
Mucha gente no aprecia ni conoce nuestro legado Afro Antillano. Gran homenaje a nuestras raices.
@sion294
"Oye tú sentado allá
pareces venezolano.
Ven aquí vamo' a bailar
que todos somos hermanos"
Un mensaje que por estos tiempos urge comprender por todos...
@yorgesarias.4926
"Lo bailan en Venezuela... "
@massiel_ss4
"Lo bailan en Panamá 🇵🇦 ..."