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.
Serenata
Willie Colón Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lo alto en la montaña reverdeciendo,
La lira del cantor en serenata...
Reclamanda con llaneza a su amante.
El sol, la melodía apasionada,
La guitarra sonando sin canción,
Confiesa el trovador a su amada.
Oh linda imagen de mujer que me seduce
Me haces recordar como si estuviera en un altar
Esa luna que nos brinda esa luz,
Es malandrina, no precisa trabajar.
Acuerdate, mi bella enamorada
La luna nos invita a pasear
Sus rayos iluminan todita la plaza.
Por donde deberíamos pasar.
La calle está desierta, ven querida.
Espero en el viento tu fragancia,
Y verás que al surgir la madrugada,
Sus ojos volverán hacia sus niños.
Oh linda imagen de mujer que me seduce
Me haces recordar como si estuviera en un altar
Esa luna que nos brinda esa luz,
Es malandrina, no precisa trabajar.
The lyrics of Willie Colón's song "Serenata" depict a musician engaged in a romantic serenade. The opening lines describe the silver moon rising and the mountains turning green, setting the scene for a tranquil evening. The musician's lute plays a serenade that he dedicates with sincerity and simplicity to his lover. The verse following details the idealistic love the musician has for his lover, as he sings of the passionate melody and the sound of the guitar playing without words, confessing to her what is in his heart.
The following verse speaks directly to the musician's lover, urging her to remember what the moon signifies and asking her to walk with him under its light. The deserted street and the wind carrying her scent are metaphors for the solitude that they share, and the final line of the verse suggests that they will be united in the future with an eye toward their children. The final verse again sings the praises of the woman who seduces him, and the moon, which seems to bless them.
Overall, the song touches on themes of love, passion, and the beauty of nature, and it portrays the powerful emotions that music can bring forth. The singer's voice is plaintive and pure, and it invites the listener to be present in the moment and to feel the emotions that the music evokes.
Line by Line Meaning
La luna va surgiendo color de plata,
The moon is rising with a silver color,
Lo alto en la montaña reverdeciendo,
High up in the mountains, the greenery is coming back,
La lira del cantor en serenata...
The singer's lyre in a serenade,
Reclamanda con llaneza a su amante.
Appealing straightforwardly to his lover.
El sol, la melodía apasionada,
The sun, the passionate melody,
La guitarra sonando sin canción,
The guitar playing without a song,
Confiesa el trovador a su amada.
The troubadour confesses to his beloved.
Lo que por dentro siente su corazón.
What his heart truly feels inside.
Oh linda imagen de mujer que me seduce
Oh lovely image of the woman who seduces me,
Me haces recordar como si estuviera en un altar
You make me remember as if I were at an altar,
Esa luna que nos brinda esa luz,
That moon which gives us that light,
Es malandrina, no precisa trabajar.
She's a troublemaker and doesn't need to work.
Acuerdate, mi bella enamorada
Remember, my beautiful beloved,
La luna nos invita a pasear
The moon invites us to go for a walk,
Sus rayos iluminan todita la plaza.
Her rays illuminate the whole plaza.
Por donde deberíamos pasar.
Where we should walk.
La calle está desierta, ven querida.
The street is deserted, come my dear.
Espero en el viento tu fragancia,
I'm waiting for your fragrance in the wind,
Y verás que al surgir la madrugada,
And you'll see that when dawn arises,
Sus ojos volverán hacia sus niños.
Her eyes will turn back to her children.
Oh linda imagen de mujer que me seduce
Oh lovely image of the woman who seduces me,
Me haces recordar como si estuviera en un altar
You make me remember as if I were at an altar,
Esa luna que nos brinda esa luz,
That moon which gives us that light,
Es malandrina, no precisa trabajar.
She's a troublemaker and doesn't need to work.
Writer(s): traditional, willie colón
Contributed by Jeremiah F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@hectormendez3572
Willie Colon is one of the greats of modern latin music- salsa.A true innovator and visionary.
@celidelprado7333
Perfecto para hoy 14 de Febrero. La voz reconciliada de la bohemia, esa voz trasnochada llena de la pasión de la noche es insuperable. Me transporta a los after hour de N.Y años 70 y 80 que no viví pero los siento en mis memorias genéticas
@eticamaestra
La cante una y otra y otra vez en mi juventud y la tuve en mi cabeza para siempre, gracias Willie por darle a mi vida tanta alegría.
@hughbarrish6319
Excelente voz, de las mejores..
@mac3509
❤️❤️❤️❤️Hermoso escuchar con tu amor esta canción
@GustavoCardona1
Me gustan mucho los arreglos musicales que se hicieron para esta obra.
@arturo884
Muy bonita i relajante cancion !!!
@ernestobravo3864
El duro!!!
@maritzasanchez8007
que belleza, ¿ Quién oyéndola 02- julio 2020?
@Pinaudiovisuales
Te la dedicó jaja