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.
El Titan
Willie Colón Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
con 60 años que juega
traté de ganarle el juego
pero me echó la canela.
El tipo era un tiburón,
comba traté de jugarle
pero era buen jugador
Oyelo bien tiburón
echate pa'llá
yo vengo de la cantera
y de aquí nadie me saca.
Tienes que pagarme
aunque tú quieras o no
oyelo bien tiburón,
tú no sabes quien soy yo.
Eh que cabio sí ve y dale el Changó.
Caballero a llegado el Titán
rey del guaguancó.
Y esto se ha puesto bueno,
por qué no cuela mi coro, ay Dios.
El Titán soy yo.
The lyrics of Willie Colón’s “El Titán” tell the story of a game played between the singer and an experienced, older player. Despite his best efforts, the singer is defeated, owing money to the other player. The lyrics are heavy with musical metaphor, comparing the older player to a shark and adding tension to the storyline. The chorus asserts the singer’s identity as the “Títan,” or giant of the guaguancó (a style of Cuban music and dance) and reminds the listener that he is not to be trifled with.
The song “El Titán” is often interpreted as an allegory for life, emphasizing the importance of experience and warning against underestimating others. It is a cautionary tale in which age and experience predominate over youthful vigor, and the older player ultimately outmaneuvers his opponent. The chorus, with its repeated assertion of the singer's power and identity, is both empowering and defiant, suggesting that he will not be cowed by the defeat.
Line by Line Meaning
Jugué con un jugador
I played with a player
con 60 años que juega
who is 60 years old and still playing
traté de ganarle el juego
I tried to win the game
pero me echó la canela.
but he outsmarted me.
El tipo era un tiburón,
The guy was a shark,
comba traté de jugarle
and I tried to play him,
pero era buen jugador
but he was a good player
y me botó sin pagarme.
and he beat me without paying.
Oyelo bien tiburón
Listen well, shark,
echate pa'llá
move over there
yo vengo de la cantera
I come from the roots,
y de aquí nadie me saca.
and nobody can take that away from me.
Tienes que pagarme
You have to pay me,
aunque tú quieras o no
whether you want to or not,
oyelo bien tiburón,
listen well, shark,
tú no sabes quien soy yo.
you don't know who I am.
Eh que cabio sí ve y dale el Changó.
Hey, change it up and give it all you've got.
Caballero a llegado el Titán
The Titan has arrived, sir,
rey del guaguancó.
king of the guaguancó.
Y esto se ha puesto bueno,
And things have gotten good,
por qué no cuela mi coro, ay Dios.
why isn't my chorus catching on, oh God.
El Titán soy yo.
I am the Titan.
Writer(s): WILLIE COLON, HECTOR LAVOE PEREZ
Contributed by Violet L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@hib32
Jugué con un jugador, con 60 años que juega,
Trate de ganar el juego pero me echó la canela.
El tipo era un tiburón, con más trate de jugarle...,
pero era buen jugador y me boto sin pagarme.
Óyelo bien tiburón ¡échate pa' allá!
Yo vengo de la cantera y de aquí nadie me saca
¡tienes que pagarme aunque tú quieras o no! ...
Oyelo bien tiburón..., tú no sabes quién soy yo...
Que siga el guaguanco ¡ecua!...¡El titán soy yo!...
@jazmineex7642
Siempre va a ser una de mis canciones favoritas 🧡 demasiada nostalgia!!
@mae-salo
La acabo de escuchar….. buena .
@angelesortizedsonrene2046
Esa combinación de Héctor y Willie cuando cantaban en un mismo plano era explosiva! 🧨
@saultellez5251
Hector Lavoe sigue vivo y canta mejor cada dia y eso que soy Mexicano pero Hector Lavoe es mi cantante favorito
@arturouribe6708
Increíble tema. Me pone muy de buenas aún cuando mi día ha sido malo. Saludos a todos desde México!!!!
@GeoGonni
Miren yo me conozco y yo. Podre cantar muy LINDO salsa. Solo es. De. Practicarny. Yo SE que SI
@ramonrodriguezcastro7170
El Cantante de los Cantantes y el Malo del Bronx ❤❤🔥🔥 Viva la Verdadera Música Latina, Saludos desde España.
@gabrielvelazquez8328
2021 y ahora suena mejor! Viva Héctor Lavoe
@rolandoochoa6931
tengo 60 años los conoci a ambos en los años 70 para carnavales en Panama en los toldos donde tocaban en la tarde y por la noche me impactaron desde la primera vez que vinieron eran unos fuera de serie mi tio favio matos era promotor y el los contrataba para catnavales
@torresargenis23
Que suerte la suya amigo