Trombone player, composer, and bandleader, William Anthony Colón Román (bor… Read Full Bio ↴Trombone player, composer, and bandleader, William Anthony Colón Román (born Apr 28, 1950 in Bronx, NY, USA) was one of the pioneers of Latin American music. Despite initial criticism, Colón's album El Malo has become known as one of the first albums to feature the "New York Sound" that sparked a renewed interest in Latin music during the 1970s. Colón has been instrumental in the careers of such Latin musicians as Rubén Blades, who first sang with Colón's band in 1975, and Celia Cruz, for whom Colón has produced such albums as Only They Could Have Done This Album in 1977 and the highly successful duet album Celia & Willie in 1981. Colón has also produced albums for Ismael Miranda, Sophy, Soledad Bravo, and the late Hector Lavoe, who sang with his band in the early '70s. Inspired by the music of various cultures, Colón has recorded with such musicians as Puerto Rican cuatro player Yomo Toro and David Byrne. Colón's composition "Che Che Coli," adapted from a Ghanaian children's song, was used by Ntozake Shange in the musical play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf. In addition to 11 Grammy nominations and one Grammy award, Colón has received a CHUBB fellowship from Yale University, the most prestigious award given by the Ivy League school. Colón ran for the United States Congress, representing New York's 17th Congressional District, in 1992.

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.

Traigo La Salsa
Willie Colón Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Lolelo la la la, lolelo la la la
lolelo la la la, lolelo la la la...

Óigame señor, présteme atención
lo que voy cantando...
Te traigo la salsa, te traigo el sabor
que tú estas buscando.

Para ti traigo la salsa
te traigo la salsa, caramba óyeme cantar.
Para ti traigo la salsa
te traigo la salsa, caramba esta navidad.

Como allá en la Isla se pasa buen rato
con el cuatro y tomando ron.

A mi no me importa na'
porque yo soy como soy.
Eh..., pongo a la gente a gozar
donde quiera que yo voy.

Yo le traigo una rareza
y esto si que es la verdad;
hoy le agregamos el cuatro
por motivo de navidad.

Esta Navidad ah eh, esta Navidad ah eh...

eh la rumba se apuesto buena yo me voy a bailar bem be
eh esta navidaahe ahe ahe ahee
me lleve ala jeva de juto que no se lava loa pies tu ve
ahy esta navida señores yo me voy para el bembe
esta navida esta navidad esta navidad ahe ahe ahe ahe
voy a cojer una borracherra oyelo tu bien mujer

ahee esta navidad senores oyelo me voy a bacilar tu ve

hee esta navidad esta navidad esta navidad esta navidad esta navidad todito va estar bien
ayy esta navida te digo yo me voy amanecer tu ve

Overall Meaning

The opening verses of Willie Colón's song Traigo La Salsa are a rousing invitation to dance and rejoice. The repetition of the nonsense syllable "lolelo" in a call-and-response pattern creates a sense of festive rapture and sets the tone for the rest of the song. The main message of the lyrics is that the singer has brought the music and the flavor that the listener is seeking: "Te traigo la salsa, te traigo el sabor/que tú estás buscando" ("I bring you salsa, I bring you the taste/that you are looking for"). The mention of the cuatro, a traditional Puerto Rican stringed instrument, and the reference to drinking rum on the island create a sense of cultural pride and celebration. The singer asserts his identity as an entertainer who can make people dance and enjoy themselves: "Eh..., pongo a la gente a gozar/donde quiera que yo voy" ("I make people have fun/wherever I go"). The incorporation of the word "navidad" (Christmas) in the chorus adds a seasonal touch to the song without detracting from its universal appeal.

Overall, Traigo La Salsa is a joyful tribute to Latin music and its power to uplift and unite people. The song is characterized by a fast-paced tempo, lively horn sections, and catchy melodies that invite listeners to sing and dance along. The lyrics emphasize the communal aspect of music, as well as the sense of pride and pleasure that comes from sharing cultural traditions. Whether heard at a party, a concert, or on the radio, Traigo La Salsa is a timeless classic that continues to inspire and excite audiences around the world.

Line by Line Meaning

Lolelo la la la, lolelo la la la
This is the melody of the song.

Óigame señor, présteme atención
Listen to me, sir, and pay attention.

lo que voy cantando...
I'm singing to you...

Te traigo la salsa, te traigo el sabor
I bring you the salsa, I bring you the flavor

que tú estas buscando.
that you're looking for.

Para ti traigo la salsa
For you, I bring the salsa

te traigo la salsa, caramba óyeme cantar.
I bring you the salsa, listen to me sing!

Para ti traigo la salsa
For you, I bring the salsa

te traigo la salsa, caramba esta navidad.
I bring you the salsa, this Christmas season.

Como allá en la Isla se pasa buen rato
As they have a good time there on the Island,

con el cuatro y tomando ron.
with the cuatro (a type of guitar) and drinking rum.

A mi no me importa na'
It doesn't concern me,

porque yo soy como soy.
because I am who I am.

Eh..., pongo a la gente a gozar
Hey..., I make people enjoy themselves

donde quiera que yo voy.
wherever I go.

Yo le traigo una rareza
I bring you something rare

y esto si que es la verdad;
and this is the truth;

hoy le agregamos el cuatro
today we add the cuatro

por motivo de navidad.
because of Christmas season.

Esta Navidad ah eh, esta Navidad ah eh...
This Christmas season, ah eh, this Christmas season, ah eh...

eh la rumba se apuesto buena yo me voy a bailar bem be
Hey, the party is getting good, I'm going to dance, bem be

eh esta navidaahe ahe ahe ahee
Hey, this Christmas season, ahe ahe ahe ahee

me lleve ala jeva de juto que no se lava loa pies tu ve
I took my lady, who hasn't washed her feet, you see

ahy esta navida señores yo me voy para el bembe
Here's the Christmas season, gentlemen, I'm headed to the dance

esta navida esta navidad esta navidad ahe ahe ahe ahe
This Christmas season, this Christmas season, ahe ahe ahe ahe

voy a cojer una borracherra oyelo tu bien mujer
I'm going to get drunk, listen well, woman

ahee esta navidad senores oyelo me voy a bacilar tu ve
Hey, this Christmas season, gentlemen, listen well, I'm going to dance, you see

hee esta navidad esta navidad esta navidad esta navidad esta navidad todito va estar bien
Hey, this Christmas season, this Christmas season, this Christmas season, this Christmas season, everything is going to be alright

ayy esta navida te digo yo me voy amanecer tu ve
Oh, this Christmas season, I'm telling you, I'm going to party until dawn, you see

Contributed by Jasmine O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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