Willie Colon Concert at Lehman College

     It was more than ten years since Bronx born Salsa star Willie Colon performed at the Lehman College Center for Performing Arts, and last night he returned to give a fantastic sold out show called "La Historia".  

    The Willie Colon concert is part of a Salsa and Jazz program that the Center has scheduled for this fall, and after a brief description of the series of concerts the show began. 

    Mr. Gerson Borrero a "Veteran Journalist", and close friend came out on stage to give the audience a little background of Mr. Willie Colon. From the days of growing up in the South Bronx (as it was called then), learning to play the trumpet at age 14, and then going on to become one of the worlds best known musicians. 

    After Mr. Borrero left the stage the curtain opened on the 16 piece Colon band, and Willie Colon came out to open the concert with one of his hit songs "I'm Dreaming". After the song Willie spoke a little about the other people that he has worked with in the past, and then told some jokes (that were really great stories) about his early days in show business. His next song was "Time to Kill" which included a vivid background on the large screen behind him and the band.

    Willie explained the next song by saying that he was an activist on issues that no one wanted to talk about at the time. He added that a lot of people were mad at him for his next song, but the song was #1 in Latin America for ten weeks in a row. The song was "Summer of Simon" about a boy who was very sick, and later died of what was found out to be AIDs.

    One of Willie's jokes (sounding much like an old vaudeville routine) was about sex. He said sex is great, but you also need romance. He went on to say that he goes out with his wife of 34 years to a charming restaurant twice a week. Willie said that she goes on Tuesdays, and he goes on Thursdays.

    After a few more songs there was a short intermission, where as Willie Colon continued his songs, jokes and remembrances. One of the famous parts of a Willie Colon concert is the "Dueling Trombones" that was done more than once last night. The last song was in memory of those who have worked with or for him that have passed away over the years. 

    I was fortunate to go backstage after the show to see Willie Colon who is an old friend of mine, and below is a photo of  another old friend of Willie, Ricardo "Ricky" Martinez.

    You van visit Willie Colon at his homepage  or tweet him at williecolon@twitter .