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.
Gran Varon
Willie Colón Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
a las 9:43 nació Simon
Es el verano del '56
El orgullo de don Andrés, por ser varón
Fue criado como los demas
Con mano dura, con severidad
Nunca opinó
Cuando crezcas vas a estudiar
Tendrás que ser un gran varon
Al extranjero se fue Simón
Lejos de casa, se le olvidó aquel sermón
Cambio la forma de caminar
Usaba falda, lápiz labial, y un carterón
Cuenta la gente que un dia el papá
Fue a visitarlo sin avisar
Vaya que error
Y una mujer le habló al pasar
Le dijo hola, qué tal papá, ¿cómo te va?
No me conoces yo soy Simón
Simón, tu hijo, el gran varón
No se puede corregir a la naturaleza
Palo que nace doblado, jamás su tronco endereza
No se puede corregir a la naturaleza
Palo que nace doblado, jamás su tronco endereza
No se puede corregir a la naturaleza
Palo que nace doblado, jamás su tronco endereza
Se dejó llevar de lo que dice la gente
Su padre jamás le habló
Lo abandono para siempre
No se puede corregir a la naturaleza
Palo que nace doblado, jamás su tronco endereza
Y no te quejes Andrés, no te quejes por nada
Si del cielo te caen limones
Aprende a hacer limonada
No se puede corregir a la naturalesa
Palo que nace doblado, jamás su tronco endereza
Y mientras pasan lo años, el viejo cediendo un poco
Simón ya ni le escribía, Andrés estaba furioso
No se puede corregir a la naturaleza
Palo que nace doblado, jamás su tronco endereza
Por fin hubo noticias de dónde su hijo estaba
Andres nunca olvidó el día de esa triste llamada
En la sala de un hospital
De una extraña enfermedad murió Simón
Es el verano del '86
Al enfermo de la cama 10 nadie lloró
Simón, Simón
Simón
No se puede corregir a la naturaleza
Palo que nace doblado, jamás su tronco endereza
Hay que tener compasión, basta ya de moraleja
En que esté libre de pecado, que tire la primera piedra
No se puede corregir a la naturaleza
Palo que nace doblado, jamás su tronco endereza
El que nunca perdona tiene destino cierto
de vivir amargos recuerdos en su propio infierno
No se puede corregir a la naturaleza
Palo que nace doblado, jamás su tronco endereza
The song "El Gran Varón" by Willie Colón describes the story of Simon, who was born in a hospital room in 1956 to Don Andrés. Raised like any other boy, Simon was expected to follow in his father's footsteps and study the same thing. His father instilled a sense of rigidity and toughness in him from an early age, making it clear that he would have to become a "great man" someday. However, Simon went abroad and eventually dressed as a woman, donning lipstick and a purse.
During one of his visits to see Simon, his father witnessed him walking around in a skirt and engaging with other men, prompting him to ask Simon what was going on. Simon introduces himself as his son, leaving Andrés in shock. As the years go by, Simon does not keep in touch with his father, and Don Andrés eventually passes away. But when Simon dies in 1986 from an unknown disease, nobody in the hospital mourns him. The chorus repeats, "Palo que nace doblado, jamás su tronco endereza" or "A tree that's born crooked, never straightens out." The song highlights the issues of gender, acceptance, and understanding in society.
Line by Line Meaning
En la sala de un hospital
The story starts with Simon's birth in a hospital room.
a las 9:43 nació Simon
Simon was born at 9:43.
Es el verano del '56
Simon was born in the summer of 1956.
El orgullo de don Andrés, por ser varón
Don Andres, Simon's father, was proud to have a son.
Fue criado como los demas
Simon was raised like his siblings.
Con mano dura, con severidad
Don Andres was strict and disciplined in raising Simon.
Nunca opinó
Simon never expressed his opinions.
Cuando crezcas vas a estudiar
Don Andres told Simon that when he grows up, he will study.
La misma vaina que tu papá, óyelo bien
Simon will study the same thing as his father, and he should listen to this message.
Tendrás que ser un gran varon
Don Andres expected Simon to be a great man.
Al extranjero se fue Simón
Simon went abroad.
Lejos de casa, se le olvidó aquel sermón
Simon forgot the messages his father taught him when he left home.
Cambio la forma de caminar
Simon changed his behavior, habits, and appearance when he left home.
Usaba falda, lápiz labial, y un carterón
He dressed differently and used makeup.
Cuenta la gente que un dia el papá
People say that one day, Simon's father came to visit him.
Fue a visitarlo sin avisar
Don Andres came to visit Simon without notice.
Vaya que error
It was a big mistake.
Y una mujer le habló al pasar
A woman passing by greeted Don Andres.
Le dijo hola, qué tal papá, ¿cómo te va?
The woman asked Don Andres how he was doing.
No me conoces yo soy Simón
Simon introduced himself to his father.
Simón, tu hijo, el gran varón
Simon told Don Andres that he was his son, the great man.
No se puede corregir a la naturaleza
It is impossible to correct one's nature.
Palo que nace doblado, jamás su tronco endereza
A tree that grows crooked cannot be straightened.
Se dejó llevar de lo que dice la gente
Simon followed what people said about him.
Su padre jamás le habló
Don Andres never spoke to his son again.
Lo abandono para siempre
Don Andres left Simon forever.
Y no te quejes Andrés, no te quejes por nada
Don Andres is told not to complain about what happened.
Si del cielo te caen limones
If life gives you lemons.
Aprende a hacer limonada
Make lemonade.
Y mientras pasan lo años, el viejo cediendo un poco
As the years pass, Don Andres became more tolerant and forgiving.
Simón ya ni le escribía, Andrés estaba furioso
Simon stopped writing to his father, and Don Andres became angry.
Por fin hubo noticias de dónde su hijo estaba
Finally, Don Andres received news about Simon's location.
Andres nunca olvidó el día de esa triste llamada
Don Andres never forgot the day he received the sad news.
De una extraña enfermedad murió Simón
Simon died from an unknown disease.
Al enfermo de la cama 10 nadie lloró
No one cried when Simon, patient 10, died.
Simón, Simón
Simon's name is repeated at the end of the song as a tribute.
Hay que tener compasión, basta ya de moraleja
We should have compassion and stop giving moral lessons.
En que esté libre de pecado, que tire la primera piedra
We should not judge others.
El que nunca perdona tiene destino cierto
Those who never forgive will suffer in their own personal hell.
Lyrics © WILLIE COLON MUSIC
Written by: OMAR ALFANO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind