PROFILPELAJAR.COM

Frank Colón
Frank Colón
Background information
Born	October 13, 1951 (age 73); Washington, D.C., U.S.
Genres	Jazz, jazz fusion, Latin jazz, world music
Occupation	Musician
Instrument	Percussion/Composer
Years active	1960s–present
Website	www.frankcolonpercussion.com

Frank Colón (born October 13, 1951) is an American musician and martial artist of Puerto Rican descent.

Early life and education

Born in Washington, D.C.,^[1] Colón moved from there to Puerto Rico at the age of five. His musical instruction began at age eleven, beginning with classical piano lessons, under the guidance of Angelina Figueroa and Rafael Figueroa. He also studied Brazilian percussion, guitar, electric bass, and trap drums. He was active in municipal and collegiate sports, martial arts, and amateur theater, and worked with various local pop music groups.

In 1970, he moved back to Washington, D.C. to attend college at American University, where he majored in Political Science. During this time, his musical orientation changed from melodic instruments to percussion. Finishing his university requirements, he turned full-time to music.

Music career

In 1976, Colón moved to New York City to work with the drummer Julito Collazo. There he became proficient at playing the Batá drums.

Martial arts

Colón is a practitioner of Tai chi, and an American pioneer black belt senior instructor in the Israeli self-defense system Krav-Maga, certified by the Wingate Institute of Israel and Krav-Maga International, Inc. He was the first elected vice-president of the American Association of Krav maga Instructors (AAKMI), nowadays known as The Krav maga Federation. He currently holds the rank of Professor Black Belt Dan 2.

Discography

As leader

Live at Vartanjazz
Latin Wonder
Latin Lounge

As sideman

With Ray Anderson

Don't Mow Your Lawn (Enja, 1994)

With Gato Barbieri

Bahia (Fania, 1982)

With Mary J. Blige

My Life (Verve, 1994)

With George Clinton

By Way of the Drum (Hip-O Select, 2007)

With David Bennett Cohen

Cookin' With Cohen (Core, 2008)

With Barbara Dennerlein

Junkanoo (Verve, 1997)

With Charles Earland

Front Burner (Milestone, 1988)

With Michael Galasso

High Lines (ECM, 2005)

With Diem Jones

Equanimity (Dr. Woo, 2007)

With Babatunde Lea

Level of Intent (Motema Music, 1991)

With Tom Lellis

Southern Exposure (Adventure, 2003)

With Andrea Marcelli

Oneness (Lipstick, 1994)

With Tania Maria

The Real Tania Maria: WILD! (Concord, 1985)
Outrageously Wild! (Concord, 1993)
Heads and Tales (Enja, 1995)

With Airto Moreira

Aquí Se Puede (Montuno, 1986)
Samba De Flora (Montuno, 1988)
The Other Side of This (Rykodisc, 1992)

With Milton Nascimento

Missa Dos Quilombos (Ariola, 1982)

With Ivo Perelman

Children of Ibeji (Enja, 1991)

With Michel Petrucciani

Music (Blue Note, 1989)
The Blue Note Years (Blue Note, 1994)

With John R. Pollard

Passion, Poison, and Politik (PPP, 2002)

With Jennifer Richman

Flowers of Gold (MarcusW, 2006)

With Steve Sacks

Primeiro Sonho (AMJ, 1999)

With Wayne Shorter

Joy Ryder (Columbia, 1988)
Anima (Ariola, 1983)
Canta Brasil (Ariola, 1993)
Ao Vivo em Montreux (Ariola, 1983)

With Janis Siegel

The Tender Trap (Medici, 1999)
I Wish You Love (Telarc, 2002)

With Bob Stewart

Goin' Home (Verve, 2003)

With Robertinho Silva

Speak No Evil (Ariola, 1995)
Bodas De Prata (Gismonti, 1989)

With Tana/Reid

Blue Motion (Evidence, 1994)

With Towa Tei

Future Listening! (Elektra, 1995)

With Cecilia Tenconi

Tiger Lily (Cecitenco, 2007)

With Wagner Tiso

Ao Vivo em Montreux (Ariola, 1983)

With The Manhattan Transfer

Brasil (Atlantic, 1987)
The Offbeat of Avenues (Atlantic, 1991)
Vibrate (Telarc, 2004)

With Ernie Watts & Gilberto Gil

Afoxé (CTI, 1991)

With Michael Wolff

Intoxicate (Indianola, 2001)
Impure Thoughts (Razor & Tie, 2000)
Sexual Healing (Roving Spirits, 2002)

Filmography

Colón appeared on an HBO television special with Harry Belafonte, titled "Don't Stop the Music", taped in Winnipeg, Canada; a Disney Channel Special with The Manhattan Transfer, titled, "Going Home"; a TV special with Tania Maria for the "Ohne Filter" show, out of Baden-Baden, Germany; a Brazil TVE special with Milton Nascimento "Live in Montreux"; two appearances on The Tonight Show with The Manhattan Transfer – one with Johnny Carson and the other with Jay Leno; a special on WIPR-TV in Puerto Rico, featured with Tania Maria, performing in the Heineken Jazz Festival; an HBO broadcast of the 40th Anniversary of Atlantic Records, in Madison Square Garden; an appearance on the Good Morning America show (ABC TV) with The Manhattan Transfer, and various other appearances performing with his own band throughout Russia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia and Moldova.