1 00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 1: There are some icons who shine on both sides of 2 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:06,280 Speaker 1: the curtain. 3 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 2: Mm hmm, your prains, you're Pharrell. 4 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 1: The ones who know how to make a track sound 5 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 1: just right, who can transform a song into a hit 6 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:17,760 Speaker 1: just by adding the perfect hook. 7 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:22,240 Speaker 3: The icons behind the icons, the ones who go from 8 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 3: supporting players to center stage slowly. 9 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: But Shirt and Today's icon, well, without him, some of 10 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:35,479 Speaker 1: the most important salsa artists and records might never have existed. 11 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:39,600 Speaker 3: They'd be regulated to deep cuts, footnotes, stuff that a 12 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 3: hipster friend might tell you about but you can't remember 13 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:44,839 Speaker 3: because he gives you a twenty minute lecture about it 14 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 3: with no PowerPoint. 15 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:50,319 Speaker 1: You hear that, Brian from cobble Hill. Next time, make 16 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: it a PowerPoint party. 17 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, Brian, Wait, PowerPoint party. 18 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 4: Whatever our producer said it was a thing. 19 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: We don't do that around here, but we get how 20 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: it could be really funny. Luckily, Brian's genre of choice 21 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 1: will remain Eastern European disco because Salza had a Wheelie 22 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:09,199 Speaker 1: Colonne for a hit. 23 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 3: Maker, trombonist, vocalist, arranger, producer and certified New yor Rican Royalty. 24 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 1: As a New Yorker, Golan is deeply tied to the 25 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:25,959 Speaker 1: city's roughest and some would say most artistically explosive years. 26 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:29,760 Speaker 3: Fun fact, he also ran to be New York Congressman. 27 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 3: He lost them. 28 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 1: As in Bourriqua, he uplifted the music of his fellow Garibagios, 29 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 1: empowering a whole generation of salsa artists to bridge gaps 30 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: within the Latino community. 31 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:44,320 Speaker 4: We bah, it's weird to hear you say that. I mean, 32 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:45,319 Speaker 4: I like it. Listen. 33 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 1: We accept all we except all onto the island anyway. 34 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 1: As a American and a New Yorker, Golan has been 35 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 1: an outspoken critic of dictatorship and a voice for the 36 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 1: marginalized people he grew up with. 37 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 3: Except these days where I'm not so crazy about the 38 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 3: things Willie's been saying. 39 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, we're gonna get there, I promise. 40 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: And like him or not agree or disagree with him, 41 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:15,239 Speaker 1: there is one thing that we can agree on. Willie 42 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 1: Colonne is an irreplaceable part of Latin music. 43 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:21,720 Speaker 3: He paid the way for some of our favorites, from 44 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 3: Sela Cruz to Mark Anthony. 45 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:26,240 Speaker 4: And it all started in the South Bronx. 46 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 3: We off to the Pooky Down. 47 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Lilianavosquez and I'm Joseph Carrio and This 48 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:41,079 Speaker 1: is Becoming an Icon a weekly podcast where we give 49 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 1: you the rundown on how today's most famous LATINX stars 50 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:46,360 Speaker 1: have shaped pop culture. 51 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 2: And given the world some extra. 52 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:51,239 Speaker 4: Level Sit back and get comfortable. 53 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 2: Because we are going in the only way we know how. 54 00:02:55,280 --> 00:03:01,240 Speaker 1: With buenasas, buenasriesas, and a lot of opinions as we 55 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: relive their greatest achievements on our journey to find out 56 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 1: what makes them so iconic. Loyal listeners know when it 57 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:20,240 Speaker 1: comes to its importance in the world of Latin music, 58 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:22,960 Speaker 1: New York City can just about go toe to toe 59 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,519 Speaker 1: with any city in Latino America, from. 60 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 3: The King of Reggaeton Darayenki to Laina de la Salsa 61 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 3: Cela Cruz. Everybody from Nicaribe comes through sooner or later. 62 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 4: Caribbean Latinos all have a unique. 63 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: Relationship with New York and that New York Caribbean connection 64 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 1: is over a century old. 65 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 3: Cubans traced their New York ties back as far back 66 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 3: as the late eighteen hundreds when Jose Marti organized the 67 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 3: independence movement while he was in exile. 68 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 1: And that independence movement came to a head when after 69 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 1: Cuba was years deep into its War of Independence, the 70 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:00,839 Speaker 1: US stepped in at the eleventh hour and declared war 71 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 1: on Spain, an intervention with consequences spanning more than a century. 72 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 3: Including Puerto Rico status as a United States territory aka 73 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 3: the stuff many podcasts and many arguments at Puerto Rican 74 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 3: dinner tables over statehood versus independence. 75 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: And the reason for the huge Puerto Rican community in 76 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: New York City. In nineteen seventeen, Puerto Ricans were granted 77 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 1: US citizenship, making it far easier for Bordiquas to come stateside. 78 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 3: And so thousands of Puerto Ricans did just that. Known 79 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:36,039 Speaker 3: as Los Bionetros or the Pioneers. The first wave of 80 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 3: Bodiquas turned to New Yorkers, or. 81 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:40,919 Speaker 1: In my dad's case, Bodigua's turned Texans. 82 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:44,279 Speaker 3: The Bionetto settled down in Brooklyn, East Harlem, the Lower 83 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 3: East Side shout out Losaida and the Bronx. 84 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:50,480 Speaker 1: And it's there in the South Bronx where Willi Colon's 85 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 1: grandparents settled down in the nineteen tens with that first 86 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:57,360 Speaker 1: wave of bion Neros, and over the next forty five years, 87 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 1: that Puerto Rican community grew, an grew, and grew. 88 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 4: With both new arrivals and New Aurekans. 89 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 1: Bourriqua was born off the island, and among those New 90 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 1: Yorrekans was Willi Colonne born April twenty eighth, nineteen fifty. 91 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 4: Okay, Joseph, what do you got for Willy? 92 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 2: A Taurus just like me? 93 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 3: A Taurus' son, hardworking and patient in model, thrives in 94 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 3: situations where he is in control, just like me, Let's 95 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:31,840 Speaker 3: say the recording studio. He would do best to embrace 96 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 3: his sense of authority, but also be careful not to 97 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:38,159 Speaker 3: let himself become too narrow minded. When he learns a 98 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 3: lesson in life, he doesn't forget it, and the streets 99 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 3: are a hard teacher. 100 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:46,240 Speaker 4: Mi hau Truer words have never been spoken. 101 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 1: Willi's mom had him at just sixteen years old. 102 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 2: And Mama was dealt a tough hand. 103 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:56,600 Speaker 3: She grew up first generation New yor Rican way back 104 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:59,280 Speaker 3: when New Yorkers called bodegas corner stores. 105 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 1: It was based sickly the Stone Age. All this environment 106 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 1: was not kind to foreigners like us. So it's no 107 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:09,559 Speaker 1: wonder when he's mom lost her Spanish, making matters worse. 108 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 1: Daddy wasn't in the picture. So of course that meant 109 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:16,160 Speaker 1: Abuela picked up the slack. Shout out to all the Aboilas, 110 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:20,039 Speaker 1: picking up the slack for dead bee dads right, shout 111 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:24,039 Speaker 1: out to the Abolitas. Anyway, Willi Colan's grandmother, Antonia, was 112 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 1: his guiding light. She taught him Spanish and instilled in 113 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 1: him that Bourriqua pride. 114 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 3: Which was important because remember this was corner Story days, 115 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 3: and then white kids were circling. 116 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:38,680 Speaker 1: Cologne was shorter and had darker skin than the mostly 117 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 1: Irish American white kids. He found himself at odds with 118 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 1: day to day. He went to a school with segregated 119 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 1: bathrooms and water fountains, there was no hiding who he was. Still, 120 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: the insults only made him double down on his pride. 121 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 2: No grandchild of Antonio Goa had who he. 122 00:06:56,880 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 4: Is, Gracia. 123 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 1: But there was one more thing weely would get bullied over, 124 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:06,840 Speaker 1: and this one it stung deep. 125 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:11,160 Speaker 3: Willie's abuela used to show her grandson a photo of 126 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 3: his dad dressed as a soldier. She would tell him 127 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 3: about the reason he wasn't around was that he was 128 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 3: off fighting, but in reality. 129 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 1: Willi's father was in and out of prison and was 130 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 1: often arrested publicly for robbery and other violent offenses. In 131 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 1: one interview, Wily even seems to imply that he himself 132 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 1: witnessed his father's arrest. 133 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 3: Willie's classmates knew about all of this, and they bullied 134 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 3: him relentlessly for it. But Willie, being a tourus, wasn't 135 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 3: taking that shit laying down. He was throwing elbows, getting 136 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 3: in fight after fight. 137 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 1: Still with his father gone, Willi was the man of 138 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 1: the house. That meant that he felt responsible for looking 139 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 1: after his sister out on the streets. 140 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 3: And he looked after her the only way he knew how, 141 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 3: by fighting with anyone who looked at her own. 142 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 1: Remember this was the South Bronx in the nineteen fifties 143 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 1: and sixties, and while this was far from the Bronx's 144 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 1: burning days of the seventies, times were tough in the 145 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 1: Batrio right after World War Two. 146 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:10,559 Speaker 3: Families like Willi's used to be able to get jobs 147 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 3: at the factory, but now those factories were closing up. 148 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 3: Lower paying, lower status service jobs took their place, making 149 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 3: matters worse. 150 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 4: Heroin use was on the rise. 151 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 1: More and more, it felt like you didn't know who 152 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 1: or what was around the next street corner. That meant 153 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 1: Willy had to learn to defend himself in his own words. 154 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:32,200 Speaker 4: Everyone else had brothers or dads to back them up. 155 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:37,200 Speaker 3: I didn't, So Willie toughened up quick, and soon he 156 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 3: earned a nickname, El Marlo. 157 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:42,880 Speaker 1: It's hard not to assume that the nickname has some 158 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: like father like sun vibes. 159 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:46,679 Speaker 4: But WILLI would come to wear that. 160 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: Nickname like armor and eventually carry it into his career 161 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: as a salsettle. 162 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 3: So he had the nickname, he had the attitude. There's 163 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:56,440 Speaker 3: just one thing missing. 164 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 1: The music, of course, And of all of the gift 165 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 1: if Abuela Antonia would be still upon Willi, this was 166 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 1: perhaps the most important. 167 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 3: At eleven years old, Willie received a trumpet as a 168 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 3: gift from his grandmother. This was obviously her way of 169 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:15,200 Speaker 3: keeping Willy off the streets. 170 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 4: But it wasn't for lack of love of music either. 171 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:20,320 Speaker 1: Antonia had enrolled Willy in music lessons and would have 172 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 1: him sing for all of her friends. 173 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:25,839 Speaker 3: But this wasn't just about proving te tiacuncita that you 174 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:30,079 Speaker 3: had the most talented grandkid. Antonia really cared about Willy's passions. 175 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 1: A plus plus for parenting y'all and Antonia's nurturing and 176 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 1: her sacrifices would sit Willy on a course to change 177 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:52,960 Speaker 1: Latin music forever. It's nineteen sixty four and Willie Colonne, 178 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 1: at fourteen years old, has formed his very first band, 179 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 1: the Latin Jazz All Stars. 180 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:02,559 Speaker 3: All Stars is some big talk for a bunch of sweaty. 181 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:05,560 Speaker 1: Teens, especially in New York, which had long since earned 182 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:08,840 Speaker 1: its reputation as one of the great American jazz cities, 183 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:12,600 Speaker 1: and in the nineteen sixties Latin jazz in particular was 184 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:13,319 Speaker 1: taking off. 185 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 3: The last decade was ruled by legends like Miles Davis, 186 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:20,679 Speaker 3: Charlie Parker, and Solonius Monk. In the sixties they were 187 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 3: still royalty no shade, but something else was. 188 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 1: Bruin rumba, mambo and merengue exploded out of dance halls Throughound, 189 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:34,839 Speaker 1: Manhattan and the Bronx. Meanwhile, groups like Machito and his 190 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 1: Afro Cuban Boys experimented with weaving these styles into classic 191 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 1: jazz arrangements. 192 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 3: An artist like Tito Puente and Lorena se La Cruz 193 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 3: brought the og styles up from Las Islas to clubs 194 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 3: like the Gongan Health Kitchen, Park Plaza in East Harlem 195 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:54,199 Speaker 3: and most importantly the Palladium in the East Village. 196 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:57,559 Speaker 1: It was during this golden age of Latin Jazz that 197 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 1: Williicolon saw his idol, the trombonis Mont Rivera live in concert, 198 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 1: and then he basically looked at Rivera playing the trombone, 199 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 1: then looked at his trumpet and looked up with sad 200 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 1: little kid eyes. 201 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:15,560 Speaker 3: And so Abuela Antonia La Santa saved about two weeks 202 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:19,440 Speaker 3: worth of living expenses to buy him a trombone. 203 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:22,720 Speaker 1: Real talk, if you are lucky enough to have an 204 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 1: Abuela Antonia in your life, you are set, like set, set, 205 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 1: set for life. 206 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 4: So at the height of Mambo Mania, not. 207 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 3: To be confused with the Latin explosion. 208 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:39,320 Speaker 1: I Hate you, Willie Colonne was playing wherever he could 209 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 1: with the Latin Jazz All Stars at night and in 210 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 1: the daytime he was working at a small record store. 211 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 2: Now, sometimes you want to keep your moonlighting and your 212 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:50,720 Speaker 2: day job separate, but this wasn't the case for Willie 213 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:54,439 Speaker 2: because the owner of the record store owned a small 214 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 2: record label. 215 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:58,000 Speaker 1: Willy invited the store manager to one of the Latin 216 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:01,199 Speaker 1: Jazz All Stars gigs, and the manager said yes, because 217 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 1: what are you going to do? 218 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:04,880 Speaker 4: Not go and then have to talk to Willie at 219 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 4: work every day? 220 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 3: Seriously bad news. So the store manager dragged his ass 221 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:13,160 Speaker 3: onto the floor train and over to East Harlem, and 222 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:19,559 Speaker 3: to his surprise, Willie could rip. He was impressed, very impressed. 223 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:22,400 Speaker 1: So impressed that he gassed up Willy Colone's band to 224 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 1: the store owner, convincing him to sign the band to 225 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 1: his label. So at fourteen, Willy and his band recorded 226 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:31,760 Speaker 1: an entire LP on the end. 227 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 3: But if you know anything about Willy Colonne, you already 228 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 3: know this isn't a big break. 229 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:39,640 Speaker 4: By the way, if you know anything about our podcast, 230 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 4: you know that it. 231 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 1: Takes like eight label signings and thirteen records to hit 232 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:47,840 Speaker 1: it big. And same thing happened with Willy the label. 233 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:51,839 Speaker 1: It ended up going bankrupt. The store owner lost everything, 234 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 1: including the rights to the LP Willy and the band 235 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:55,720 Speaker 1: had recorded. 236 00:12:55,960 --> 00:13:00,200 Speaker 3: Rule number one, read the contract, Rule number two. The 237 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 3: repomen don't give no fuck about that contract. 238 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:08,040 Speaker 1: So Real, however, really struck a deal with the store owner. 239 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:11,400 Speaker 1: If he could raise enough money to buy the rights back, 240 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:15,760 Speaker 1: the tapes would be his. So El Malo hustled and 241 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 1: scraped and got his music back. 242 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 3: Meanwhile, across town, another independent record label was on the 243 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 3: up and up, and. 244 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 4: Now we're getting to the good stuff. 245 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:30,200 Speaker 1: In nineteen sixty four, an unlikely duo decided to found 246 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:34,160 Speaker 1: a record label. That duel was Johnny Pacheko, the legendary 247 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: Dominican multi instrumentalist, and his divorce lawyer Jerry Mesucci. 248 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 3: Wait, really, we did not cover that in the Celia 249 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 3: episodes because. 250 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:45,480 Speaker 1: Some details you got to say for later. Otherwise we 251 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:50,440 Speaker 1: wouldn't have a podcast anyway. Jerry Mesucci, the cop turned 252 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 1: divorce lawyer turned and presario, had spent some time in 253 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:57,440 Speaker 1: Cuba and had developed a love of Latin music. So 254 00:13:57,480 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 1: when he learned that his client was selling records out 255 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:02,400 Speaker 1: of the trunk of his car, he decided to help 256 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:03,000 Speaker 1: a brother out. 257 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:06,679 Speaker 3: Bacheco, as we mentioned earlier in the season, was sped 258 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:09,880 Speaker 3: up with getting a measly cut from record sales. Neither 259 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 3: he nor Masucci could have predicted that their little operation 260 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 3: would become a springboard for a whole generation of Latin 261 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:19,680 Speaker 3: musicians and a globally known brand. 262 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 1: We are, of course, talking about Fanya Records, and Willie 263 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 1: Colonne was about to get in on the ground floor. 264 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 1: In nineteen sixty seven, a few years after the label 265 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 1: got itself a proper office, really showed up to Fanya 266 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:35,840 Speaker 1: with his Latin Jazz All Stars LP in hand. 267 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:39,480 Speaker 3: Always make sure you own your work, kids, because that 268 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 3: record got really signed. 269 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 4: But Willy still had work to do. 270 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 1: He had won Masucci over, but when he met Johnny Pacheco, 271 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 1: the Dominican luminary had one thing to say. 272 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:51,240 Speaker 2: To him, find a singer. 273 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 4: Paranto pronto you mean prono. 274 00:14:56,960 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 3: Yeah. 275 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:00,280 Speaker 1: Luckily for Willie, it wouldn't take him long to find 276 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 1: a singer, a singer who would become one of his 277 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 1: closest collaborators and. 278 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 4: Fuel one of his biggest beefs. 279 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 1: Joseph, let's take a little beat as fellow New Yorkers. Okay, fine, 280 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 1: one current New Yorker and one former New Yorker. I'm 281 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 1: probably lucky if you even let me back on the island. 282 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 3: Well, real talk, have you changed your driver's license to California? 283 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:37,920 Speaker 4: Negative? A massive negative? 284 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 3: No? 285 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 4: Never, I am holding out forever. 286 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 3: Okay, keep it that way and we'll let you back 287 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 3: in every time. Anyway, we're taking a beat. 288 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:49,200 Speaker 1: Yes, As you can tell from this episode, New York's 289 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 1: music scene as it once was is legendary for a reason. 290 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 1: Dance halls, discos, scrappy little DIY venues. 291 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:59,400 Speaker 3: Are we about to get sentimental up in this bitch? 292 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 3: You know it? 293 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:04,080 Speaker 1: I have to ask you, because I know you used 294 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 1: to spend your nights at your club. Is there any 295 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 1: club that no longer exists in New York that used 296 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:15,760 Speaker 1: to like your stomping. 297 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 2: In this club? 298 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 3: Yes, it no longer exists. It was called Splash and 299 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 3: it was also the very very first gay bar I 300 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 3: ever been to in New York. 301 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 2: And when you. 302 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 1: Moved from Texas and I moved around the Paso, Texas 303 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:32,920 Speaker 1: and oh my god, made it so special. 304 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 3: You know? It was like, well, I would there used 305 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 3: to be a show on HBO called Queer's Folk, and 306 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 3: it was it looks like the gay guys would go 307 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:45,320 Speaker 3: into the huge warehouses with go go boys and just 308 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 3: everyone was beautiful and people were like blah blah blah, 309 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 3: and it just like, I don't know, it was exactly 310 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 3: that what I walked into. So it was just such 311 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:58,680 Speaker 3: a core memory of like going into a huge, massive club, 312 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:01,040 Speaker 3: although now looking back at it wasn't that big, but 313 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 3: it just felt like it because I had never been 314 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:08,399 Speaker 3: into anything like that. What about your first club or venue, 315 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 3: because I know you like music. 316 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:14,679 Speaker 1: Actually, okay, so the clubs that I remember were like 317 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 1: I mean, it was like late nineties, early two thousand's heyday. 318 00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:24,880 Speaker 1: So I god, I'm so embarrassed. Like the Tunnel, I'm 319 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:26,720 Speaker 1: like dating myself right now. I don't know if people 320 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:29,160 Speaker 1: know what that is, but like that was a club 321 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:30,840 Speaker 1: that I went to when I was sixteen years old, 322 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:33,359 Speaker 1: living in New York going to Columbia University for the summer. 323 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 1: I had no business being at the Tunnel when I 324 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 1: was sixteen years old. And then I'm trying to think, 325 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:43,679 Speaker 1: like there was another one that was kind of like that, 326 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:45,320 Speaker 1: and I'm like blanking on the name right now, but 327 00:17:45,359 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 1: I feel like I loved all of Like I loved 328 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 1: all of those places. And then from when I finally 329 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 1: moved to New York post college, Bungalow eight that like 330 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 1: defined an entire Like I mean, I used to not 331 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 1: get into Bungalow. 332 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:01,400 Speaker 4: Let's be very. 333 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:04,880 Speaker 2: Clear, like club or was it like a music venue? 334 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:06,359 Speaker 4: No, bungalowight was a club. 335 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:08,679 Speaker 1: It was like it was like the heyday of like 336 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:12,359 Speaker 1: models and bottles, right, And I am not a model, 337 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 1: nor can I affid a four, nor can I afford 338 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 1: to buy a bottle, which is why I was never 339 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 1: getting into Bungalow eight. But I finally got in. I 340 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:23,200 Speaker 1: cracked the code, and yeah, I had too much fun 341 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:25,440 Speaker 1: at those places. And then in terms of like music venues, 342 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:28,199 Speaker 1: trying to think of like classic, what was that there 343 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 1: was a place that closed. 344 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:31,040 Speaker 3: Because I was going to say, you know, it just 345 00:18:31,119 --> 00:18:32,880 Speaker 3: hit me like I remember that was my first club. 346 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:35,200 Speaker 3: But then I at my actual first club that I 347 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:37,240 Speaker 3: ever went to was called Don Quinine, and it was 348 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:40,680 Speaker 3: a quads and it was a club until maybe like midnight, 349 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:44,160 Speaker 3: and then at twelve o'clock a live band would come 350 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:49,399 Speaker 3: on and play stuff like and Manna and but they 351 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 3: were like a cover band and they would come from 352 00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:54,240 Speaker 3: Argentina and it would turn into them when you could 353 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:56,240 Speaker 3: still dance live music because they would play it like 354 00:18:56,480 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 3: the song it was just live that's sod. Just I 355 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:01,720 Speaker 3: just remembered that. 356 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 4: Right now, I'm trying to think of like a Latin 357 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 4: there was. It wasn't a Latin club, but there was 358 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:08,119 Speaker 4: this place. It was downtown. I think it closed, it 359 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:09,679 Speaker 4: like became other things. 360 00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:15,520 Speaker 1: It was sob sounds of Brazil, and I remember going 361 00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:18,080 Speaker 1: there like with my friends and like having way too 362 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:22,960 Speaker 1: much fun. But listen, old nineties and two thousands clubs 363 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:26,840 Speaker 1: in New York were just a vibe man like, I 364 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:29,639 Speaker 1: feel sorry for kids today. 365 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:35,000 Speaker 2: Well, I mean, it'll never be like it was now. 366 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:39,879 Speaker 1: It's everything true, true, true, And you know, it's easy 367 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:43,200 Speaker 1: to romanticize the good old days of New York live 368 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 1: music venues and clubs. But for as long as there's 369 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:49,480 Speaker 1: been music, musicians in cities like New York have had 370 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:51,919 Speaker 1: to work their way up to big venues like the 371 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:53,280 Speaker 1: Palladium in the city. 372 00:19:53,359 --> 00:19:54,960 Speaker 2: Right, don't get it twisted. 373 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:58,240 Speaker 3: Musicians on the come up in New York will still 374 00:19:58,280 --> 00:20:00,240 Speaker 3: play at European Insanet. 375 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:04,159 Speaker 1: Or, in Willie Colon's case, the American Legion Club on 376 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:07,120 Speaker 1: one hundred and sixty second and Prospect in the Bronx. 377 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:11,720 Speaker 3: Wait, so they played salsa for World War two veterans. 378 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 1: Hey, Latinos did serve in both World wars. Okay, the 379 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:19,240 Speaker 1: more you know, so, yes, these teenagers are playing for 380 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:22,280 Speaker 1: war vets and God bless the troops. But in terms 381 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:27,040 Speaker 1: of crowd size the Palladium this was not Willie and 382 00:20:27,119 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 1: his band had a shiny new label contract, but he 383 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 1: still needed fans. He just needed someone to listen to 384 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:33,080 Speaker 1: his music. 385 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 3: So to get that, he needed hits, and to get hits, 386 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:39,040 Speaker 3: he needed a singer, and. 387 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:43,159 Speaker 1: He would find one right upstairs at the Bonset Social Club, 388 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 1: where another Latin jazz orchestra happened to be playing. 389 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 2: I'm picturing one of those buildings in k Town where 390 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:53,199 Speaker 2: there's like twelve floors, the karaoke bars and like a nightclub. 391 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 4: I love those places. 392 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:58,040 Speaker 1: And a salsa band is crowded enough with just the 393 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:00,840 Speaker 1: percussion section, right, But if any place is going to 394 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:03,439 Speaker 1: make room for the band, it's the Boncees Social Club, 395 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:06,560 Speaker 1: one of many social clubs for Latinos that existed for 396 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:08,040 Speaker 1: decades throughout the city. 397 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:11,879 Speaker 3: These were gathering places for expats to safely be themselves, 398 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:15,720 Speaker 3: speak Spanish freely, and discussed politics so locally and over in. 399 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:19,680 Speaker 1: La Patria, and to dance, of course, and at Bonce 400 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:22,600 Speaker 1: they moved to the sounds of a Latin jazz orchestra 401 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:26,280 Speaker 1: named very creatively the New Yorkers. 402 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:28,800 Speaker 3: They didn't have a catchy name, but they did have 403 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:34,040 Speaker 3: a singer, a gauky looking singer with a big voice. 404 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:37,080 Speaker 1: A voice that would one day become his namesake, because we're, 405 00:21:37,119 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: of course talking about Hector Juan Perez Martinez, or better 406 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:44,399 Speaker 1: known as Hector Leveaux. 407 00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:48,040 Speaker 3: When Willy visited the Poons Club for the first time, 408 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 3: Hector's voice stopped him in his tracks. The next day 409 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:54,600 Speaker 3: he told Johnny Pocheko, you got to hear this guy. 410 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:57,119 Speaker 3: He brought Johnny to the club and right then and 411 00:21:57,160 --> 00:22:00,640 Speaker 3: there they asked Hector to record with the Latin Jazz 412 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:02,480 Speaker 3: All Stars, and Hector said. 413 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:06,600 Speaker 2: No thanks, leaving Willie confused. 414 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:12,160 Speaker 3: But nevertheless, this tourus persisted and eventually won Hector over. 415 00:22:12,920 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 3: So you might ask why the sass well in Hector's eyes, 416 00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:19,919 Speaker 3: asking to record wasn't the same as asking to join 417 00:22:20,119 --> 00:22:20,560 Speaker 3: the band. 418 00:22:21,119 --> 00:22:26,040 Speaker 1: He found it shady, which spoiler alert did not bode 419 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:29,200 Speaker 1: well for the future. But for now, Hector was in 420 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:33,359 Speaker 1: and thus a legendary duo was formed, one that would 421 00:22:33,359 --> 00:22:38,879 Speaker 1: become known as the Bad Boys. Hmmm, Joseph, what's wrong? 422 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:40,400 Speaker 1: Is something glitching in your matrix? 423 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:44,480 Speaker 2: No, I'm just having some major dejeba right now. 424 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:49,920 Speaker 3: Two young, hunry Puerto Rican boys with big egos continue 425 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:53,399 Speaker 3: coming up in an underground music scene, giving voice to 426 00:22:53,440 --> 00:23:00,240 Speaker 3: the struggle all around them. It's giving that Nikki jam 427 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 3: uh Oh. 428 00:23:02,119 --> 00:23:05,440 Speaker 1: Like Los Congris Wood, decades later, Willis Colonne and Hector 429 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:09,040 Speaker 1: Levau redefined a whole strain of Latin music with a 430 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:12,359 Speaker 1: series of earthshaking records, only to come apart at the 431 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:15,120 Speaker 1: hands of drug abuse and interpersonal drama. 432 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:24,200 Speaker 3: But that's next week. Kidos on the. 433 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:27,760 Speaker 4: Next Becoming an Icon, The Rise and Fall of the Bad. 434 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:29,680 Speaker 2: Boys, Bad Boys, Bad Boys. 435 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:32,640 Speaker 4: What You're Gonna Do, What You're Gonna Do. 436 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:39,879 Speaker 1: Becoming an Icon is presented by Sonoo and Iheart's Michael 437 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:43,840 Speaker 1: Duda podcast Network. Listen to Becoming an Icon on the 438 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:48,440 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast