Baquine De Angelitos Negros
WILLIE COLON    Like many of his boricua compatriots, Willie ColÃ³n was born and raised  in the heart of the Latin neighborhood of the Bronx. It was this very  neighborhood where he drank from the fountain of teen angst, sharing with  his compatriots his sorrows and aspirations. This inspired in him a  profound devotion to his cultural roots.     Musician, composer, arranger, singer, producer, director, and community  leader: ColÃ³n wore all of these hats, gaining recognition as both an  artist and a human being.    He started out in the music business at such a young age that his mother  had to sign his first contract for him. Ever since then his career has  covered all facets of music, as proven by his prolific discography, which  boasts more than 30 million records sold. Such sales earned him countless  gold and silver-selling albums, as well as several Grammy nominations.    ColÃ³n is also known for his participation on albums with such names as  Celia Cruz, RubÃ©n Blades, HÃ©ctor Lavoe, and many others.    Willie ColÃ³n, known for his excellence, and well aware of the power and  influence he held over the mass media, established himself as a civil- and  community-rights leader. For his contributions, he won recognition and  awards, such as the plaque that bears his name on the Bronx's "Walk of  Fame." It was this very city that was birthplace and home to many of his  compatriots who came to the United States in search of a better future. WILLIE COLONComo muchos de sus compatriotas boricuas, Willie ColÃ³n naciÃ³ y  creciÃ³ en el corazÃ³n del barrio latino del Bronx, New York.  El mismo  barrio en el que bebiÃ³ la savia mÃ¡s pura de sus inquietudes juveniles,  compartiendo con los suyos quebrantos y aspiraciones que le inculcaron una  profunda devociÃ³n por sus raÃ­ces culturales.    MÃºsico, compositor, arreglista, cantante, productor, director y lÃ­der  comunitario, es la trayectoria que le ha dado reconocimiento como ser  humano y artista.      Se iniciÃ³ en la mÃºsica a tan temprana edad que su madre tuvo que  firmar su primer contrato por Ã©l. Desde entonces, su carrera siempre  ascendente cubriÃ³ todas las facetas de la mÃºsica, como consta su  prolÃ­fica discografÃ­a, con un total de mÃ¡s de treinta millones de discos  vendidos por los que se le han concedido infinidad de Discos de Oro y  Platino, y  varias nominaciones para optar por el codiciado premio Grammy.    Se ha destacado tambiÃ©n por colaborar en producciones con grandes  nombres en el Ã¡mbito musical como: Celia Cruz, RubÃ©n Blades, HÃ©ctor  Lavoe, entre otros muchos.     Willie ColÃ³n, solidario por excelencia y consciente del poder e  influencia que ejerce en los medios de comunicaciÃ³n masiva, se ha erigido  lÃ­der por los derechos civiles y comunitarios, por lo que ha recibido  premios y reconocimientos como la placa que lleva su nombre instalada en el  "Paseo de la Fama" en el Bronx. El mismo barrio, hogar y cuna de muchos de  sus compatriotas llegados a estas tierras con la esperanza de un futuro  mejor.