Initially I was not going to post this article about one of my favorite salsa heroes but after reading it and enjoying it I figured someone else who also admires Willie Colón may appreciate reading this article/ interview as well.
If you know who Willie Colón is chances are you know about his legendary career going back to his days with Héctor Lavoe, Rubén Blades and the whole Fania all-stars era. Well, Willie C is stepping down. The album he is working on may be his last one and I must say he is leaving behind footsteps that can't be copied as an artist and trombonist. Known as "El Malo" I dare to say there is no other salsero today comparable to Willie Colón's style and this is what I like to see an artist recognizes that his time is up and does not wait until his albums stop selling or begins to produce inferior music before he retires. As the critics say 'step down in your glory' and let the fans remember you for your legendary music and what you contributed to the genre.
Two key questions that I thought were important and well answered in the interview were about the future of salsa. The golden age has come and gone, salsa is transforming but what does it mean for the genre? The question of whether salsa will even be a marketable genre in the near future was put on the table. The other fundamental question was "why", why is salsa not what it used to be? Again Willie Colón provided an interesting response in his interview and it's key because he said salsa talent is available in artists such as Marc Anthony, Gilberto Santa Rosa and others but Willie Colón said it best- lo que hace falta es pueblo y calle.
Here is the link to the interview.Willie C-El Malo
-LDG.
Willie Colón - a tremendous musician, trombonist and salsero.
If you know who Willie Colón is chances are you know about his legendary career going back to his days with Héctor Lavoe, Rubén Blades and the whole Fania all-stars era. Well, Willie C is stepping down. The album he is working on may be his last one and I must say he is leaving behind footsteps that can't be copied as an artist and trombonist. Known as "El Malo" I dare to say there is no other salsero today comparable to Willie Colón's style and this is what I like to see an artist recognizes that his time is up and does not wait until his albums stop selling or begins to produce inferior music before he retires. As the critics say 'step down in your glory' and let the fans remember you for your legendary music and what you contributed to the genre.
Two key questions that I thought were important and well answered in the interview were about the future of salsa. The golden age has come and gone, salsa is transforming but what does it mean for the genre? The question of whether salsa will even be a marketable genre in the near future was put on the table. The other fundamental question was "why", why is salsa not what it used to be? Again Willie Colón provided an interesting response in his interview and it's key because he said salsa talent is available in artists such as Marc Anthony, Gilberto Santa Rosa and others but Willie Colón said it best- lo que hace falta es pueblo y calle.
Here is the link to the interview.Willie C-El Malo
-LDG.
Willie Colón - a tremendous musician, trombonist and salsero.