Frank Colón


Frank Colón is an American musician and martial artist of Puerto Rican descent.

Early life and education

Born in Washington, D.C., 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 capoeira, and a black belt instructors 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, nowadays known as The Krav maga Federation. He currently holds the rank of Professor Black Belt Dan 2.

Discography

As leader

With Tania Maria
With Ray Anderson
  • Don't Mow Your Lawn
  • Heads and Tales
With Michael Galasso
  • High Lines
With Mickey Hart
  • Planet Drum
With The Manhattan Transfer
With Wayne Shorter
  • Joy Ryder
With Gato Barbieri
  • Bahia
With Milton Nascimento
  • Missa dos Quilombos
  • Anima
  • Canta Brasil
  • Ao Vivo em Montreux
With Barbara Dennerline
  • Junkanoo
With Janis Siegel
With Airto Moreira
With Michael Wolff
  • Intoxicate
  • Impure Thoughts
  • Sexual Healing
With Towa Tei
  • Future Listening!
With TanaReid
  • Blue Motion
With Ernie Watts & Gilberto Gil
  • Afoxê
With Ivo Perelman
  • Children of Ibeji
With Michel Petrucciani
With Charles Erland
  • Front Burner
With Andrea Marcelli
  • Oneness
With Robertinho Silva
  • Speak No Evil
  • Bodas de Prata
With Wagner Tiso
  • Ao Vivo em Montreux
With Bob Stewart
  • Goin' HOme
With Mary J Blige
  • My Life
  • Reflections
With David Bennett Cohen
  • Cookin' With Cohen
With Babatunde Lea
  • Level of Intent
With George Clinton
  • By Way of the Drum
With Diem Jones
  • Equanimity
With Tom Lellis
  • Southern Expousure
With Ana France
With Cecilia Tenconi
  • Tiger Lily
With John R. Pollard
  • Passion, Poison & Politik
With Jennifer Richman
  • Flowers of Gold
With Steve Sacks'
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 with The Manhattan Transfer, and various other appearances performing with his own band throughout Russia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia and Moldova.
He also appeared in the film Calle 54 by director Fernando Trueba.