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.
Maria Lionza
Willie Colón Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
En Venezuela, vive una diosa
En la Montaña de Sorte por Yaracuy
Vive una diosa, una noble reina
De gran belleza y de gran bondad
Amada por la naturaleza
E iluminada de caridad
Y su techo hecho de estrellas (larala-la)
La luna, el sol, el cielo
Y la montaña sus compañeros (larala-la)
Los ríos, quebradas y flores
Sus mensajeros (larala-la)
Oh salve reina, María Lionza (larala-la)
Por Venezuela va con su onza
Y cuidando esta
Y va velando a su tierra entera
Desde el guajiro hasta Cumana
Cuida el destino de los latinos
Vivir unidos y en libertad
En la montaña de Sorte por Yaracuy
En Venezuela
María Lionza, hazme un milagrito
Y un ramo de flores te vo' a llevar
María Lionza, hazme un milagrito
Y un ramo de flores te vo' a llevar
Un ramo 'e flores, de flores blancas
Cual la pureza de tu bondad
María Lionza, hazme un milagrito
Y un ramo de flores te vo' a llevar
A to' a la gente allá en los Cerritos
Y allá en Caracas protégela
María Lionza, hazme un milagrito
Y un ramo de flores te vo' a llevar
Doña María cueste lo que cueste
A la autopista del este lo voy a llevar
María Lionza, hazme un milagrito
Y un ramo de flores te vo' a llevar
Y va cuidando a su Venezuela
Desde el guajiro hasta Cumana
María Lionza, hazme un milagrito
Y un ramo de flores te vo' a llevar
María Lionza, hazme un milagrito
Y un ramo de flores te vo' a llevar
Fue por el rio Guanaguanare
Que Coromoto la vio brillar
María Lionza, hazme un milagrito
Y un ramo de flores te vo' a llevar
Ella es la reina que el pueblo adora
Ella es la Diosa más popular
María Lionza, hazme un milagrito
Y un ramo de flores te vo' a llevar
Flores para tu altar
Doña María te voy a llevar
María Lionza, hazme un milagrito
Y un ramo de flores te vo' a llevar
Con tabaco y aguardiente
La ceremonia ya va a empezar
María Lionza, hazme un milagrito
Y un ramo de flores te vo' a llevar
Nos despedimos con un saludo
De Puerto Rico y de Panamá
The lyrics of Willie Colon's song "Maria Lionza" are a tribute to the "goddess" of the same name who is worshiped in Venezuela. The song describes her as a noble queen of great beauty and kindness, loved by nature and illuminated by charity. She is said to live in the jungle on a mountain called Sorte, where her home is made of wind and her roof is made of stars. The rivers, streams, and flowers are said to be her messengers, and she cares for the destiny of all Latinos, from the countryside to the cities.
The song is an example of a genre called Salsa, which originated in New York City in the 1960s and 1970s. It features a prominent brass section, including trumpets and trombones, as well as traditional Latin American percussion instruments. The lyrics are written in Spanish and express a strong sense of cultural identity and religious devotion.
The song mentions various locations in Venezuela, such as Yaracuy, Cumana, and Caracas. These places are associated with the history and culture of the country, and the song suggests that Maria Lionza cares for all of Venezuela, from the rural areas to the urban centers. Overall, the song celebrates the idea of unity and freedom among Latinos and pays tribute to the goddess who embodies these values.
Line by Line Meaning
En la montaña de Sorte por Yaracuy
In the mountain of Sorte in Yaracuy, Venezuela
En Venezuela, vive una diosa
A goddess lives in Venezuela
Vive una diosa, una noble reina
She is a goddess, a noble queen
De gran belleza y de gran bondad
She is of great beauty and great kindness
Amada por la naturaleza
Loved by nature
E iluminada de caridad
And illuminated with charity
Y sus paredes son hechas de viento (larala-la)
Her walls are made of wind
Y su techo hecho de estrellas (larala-la)
And her roof is made of stars
La luna, el sol, el cielo
The moon, the sun, the sky
Y la montaña sus compañeros (larala-la)
And the mountain is her companion
Los ríos, quebradas y flores
The rivers, streams, and flowers
Sus mensajeros (larala-la)
Are her messengers
Oh salve reina, María Lionza (larala-la)
Oh hail the queen, Maria Lionza
Por Venezuela va con su onza
She travels through Venezuela with her panther
Y cuidando esta
Taking care of it
Y va velando a su tierra entera
And watches over her entire land
Desde el guajiro hasta Cumana
From the peasant to Cumana
Cuida el destino de los latinos
She watches over the fate of Latinos
Vivir unidos y en libertad
To live united and free
María Lionza, hazme un milagrito
Maria Lionza, please do me a little miracle
Y un ramo de flores te vo' a llevar
And I'll bring you a bouquet of flowers
Un ramo 'e flores, de flores blancas
A bouquet of white flowers
Cual la pureza de tu bondad
As a symbol of your purity and kindness
A to' a la gente allá en los Cerritos
For all the people there in Cerritos
Y allá en Caracas protégela
And protect them there in Caracas
Doña María cueste lo que cueste
Lady Maria, no matter the cost
A la autopista del este lo voy a llevar
I'll take you to the Eastern Freeway
Fue por el rio Guanaguanare
It was by the Guanaguanare river
Que Coromoto la vio brillar
That Coromoto saw her shining
Ella es la reina que el pueblo adora
She is the queen that the people adore
Ella es la Diosa más popular
She is the most popular goddess
Flores para tu altar
Flowers for your altar
Con tabaco y aguardiente
With tobacco and rum
La ceremonia ya va a empezar
The ceremony is about to begin
Nos despedimos con un saludo
We say goodbye with a farewell
De Puerto Rico y de Panamá
From Puerto Rico and Panama
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ruben Blades
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@annyfr2541
Soy mexicana
Pero como me gusta esta canción.
Espero un día ir a visitar ese lugar donde se venera a María Lionza.
Mi hija y yo queremos ir.a visitar
Siempre.andamos cantando
Flores para tu altar
Doña Maria
Le voy a llevar.
@Elizabeth-hv5ud
Cuando escucho a Ruben me siento orgullosa de ser Panameña. Y cuando vaya a conocer venezuela, ire a donde Maria Lionza.❤❤❤❤Dios mediante.
@victorortiz2393
Hola Elizabeth saludos desde Venezuela cuando vengas a Venezuela me escribes tienes aquí donde llegar a mi apartamento y te llevo a yaracuy Sanfelipe para que Conozcas los santeros de Maria Leonza eso es un paraíso de tanta vegetación vivo a 6 horas de ese lugar cuenta conmigo para ese viaje saludos y cuidata mucho te puedo decir que yi conozco mucho Panamá también casi todo lo conozco hasta chiriqui
@mynameisobel5750
te va a encantar amiga!!! Bienvenida seasss lindo panamá
@fernandoaguilar7833
En el nombre de Jesús Cristo lo mejor sería que conozcas al señor Jesucristo el te ama
@mynameisobel5750
@@fernandoaguilar7833 Venezuela es un país laico así que váyase con su fundamentalismo religioso a otro lado y dejé la gente en paz raro de mierda
@gabrielalvarado5853
No lo recomendaría mucho la verdad.
@richardjani832
Un Panameño y Puertorriqueño cantantandolé a Venezuela... Eso se llama Salsa. Saludos ahora de México. 🇵🇦🇵🇷🇻🇪🇲🇽
@claudianavarro6183
Más perfecto imposible!!!! Saludos de una venezolana 💛💙❤
@richardjani832
@Claudia Navarro Gracias por el saludo... Espero te encuentres bien hermosa mujer... Saludos a Venezuela.
@eduardochuy7991
si te refieres al maestro Willie Colon,el es de New York