On April 5, musician Javier Colon will perform in the Barn as part of the Campus Activities Board’s (CAB) Acoustic Coffeehouse Series.
Colon is best known for winning the first season of NBC’s singing competition “The Voice.” His musical career, began well before that. After growing up in Stratford, C.T., he attended University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Music. While studying, he formed an R&B a cappella quintet that performed at the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem. After graduating with a degree in mu- sic education, Colon became the lead singer of EmCQ, a band that played predominantly funk music and paid tribute to many artists, including Stevie Wonder. Colon then toured for two years with the Derek Trucks Band, playing rock, soul, blues, and jazz music for audiences.
At the age of 24, Colon signed with Capitol Records and released his first album,
Javier
, in 2003. A mix of R&B, jazz, and blues dominates this album, and its first single, “Crazy” reached #42 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart and #95 on Billboard Hot 100. Three years later, Colon released his second album,
Left of Center
, which showcased his eclectic and varied taste in music and his non- conformist approach to R&B.
In 2010, Colon released a six song EP called “The Truth” under his own record label, Javier Colon Music. One year later, Colon auditioned for “The Voice”, impressing the judges with his rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time.” He is one of only a few contestants in the show’s history to be chosen by all four judges.
Throughout the season, Colon captivated audiences with his versatility, at some times crooning smoothly and at others showcasing the power of his tenor voice. He covered various songs, including Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me,” Sarah McLaughlin’s “Angel,” and Coldplay’s “Fix You.” On the sea- son finale, he clinched his victory with a performance of the Fleet- wood Mac classic “Landslide” with Stevie Nicks.
After winning “The Voice”, Colon signed with Universal Re- public Records and released his third album,
Come Through For You
. The album features collaborations with Adam Levine and Kris Allen. Colon also accompanies Natasha Bedingfield on the guitar in the energetic “As Long As We Got Love.” In 2016, he signed with Concord Music Group and released his fourth album,
Gravity
, in which he laments over disappointing someone in a relationship.
Colon continues to be active. Musically, as in addition to his albums, he also creates content for his YouTube channel, where he sweetly sings Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” while playing the guitar with Jordin Sparks. An interview with Broadway radio host Seth Rudetsky revealed Colon has desires to pursue career opportunities on Broadway in the future. He has also performed for multiple events over the past year, including the Pacific House organization’s Close to Home Youth Concert, an event raising money for homeless youth. Javier Colon’s down-to-earth original songs and covers combine with a voice that has the power to fill the room with its emotions.
Next week, he will bring what he describes as his “acoustic soul” to Hamilton College.
