NPR Music Alt.Latino: From church basement to salsa immortality: Remembering Willie Colón
Mar 4, 2026
Papo Vázquez, trombonist and bandleader who played with Fania-era greats, shares personal stories and musical picks about Willie Colón. He recalls first hearing Guisando, Colón’s studio craft, the trombone’s rise as a lead voice, jazz influences like Caravan, and the making of Siembra and Pedro Navaja. He closes with a reflective tribute track.
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Stealing Records And Seeing Willie Live
- Papo Vázquez recalls first hearing Willie Colón's Guisando as a child and stealing records from his father's shop to listen privately.
- He remembers seeing Willie and Héctor Lavoe live in a church basement at about age 11, which emotionally cemented his desire to play trombone.
Early Willie Songs Were Barrio Street Stories
- Willie Colón's early songs drew directly from barrio street life with lyrics about theft and survival, making salsa musica del barrio.
- Papo points to tracks like Está Guisando that mix danceable rhythms with heavy, streetwise themes.
Organic Live Studio Sound Defined The Early Records
- Papo highlights the organic, live-recorded studio approach of Willie Colón's early records, with full bands playing together.
- That live setup made the sound immediate and raw, requiring complete takes and producing a tight, in-person energy.