Frank Colón (born October 13, 1951) 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 Tai chi, and an American pioneer black belt senior instructor 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 (AAKMI), nowadays known as The Krav maga Federation. He currently holds the rank of Professor Black Belt Dan 2.

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With Ray Anderson With Gato Barbieri With Mary J. Blige With George Clinton With David Bennett Cohen With Barbara Dennerlein With Charles Earland With Michael Galasso With Diem Jones With Babatunde Lea With Tom Lellis With Andrea Marcelli With Tania Maria With Airto Moreira With Milton Nascimento With Ivo Perelman With Michel Petrucciani With John R. Pollard With Jennifer Richman With Steve Sacks With Wayne Shorter With Janis Siegel With Bob Stewart With Robertinho Silva With Tana/Reid With Towa Tei With Cecilia Tenconi With Wagner Tiso With The Manhattan Transfer With Ernie Watts & Gilberto Gil With Michael Wolff

Filmography

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 (ABC TV) 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.