Meet Javier Colon, first winner of ‘The Voice’
Add another name to the list of current talent search champions like "American Idol's" Scott McReery and "X-Factor's' Melanie Amaro. His name is Javier Colon who was declared winner of the first season of "The Voice" June last year. AXN arranged for some Asian journalists to interview him by phone recently. It was close to midnight in Las Vegas where Javier was enjoying a night cap when he came on the line.
"I really didn't think I was going to win," he says about his victory. "I was shocked. It was an emotional moment for me. I still can't believe I won." That sounded like a rehearsed comment most victors say but reading about Javier's bumpy musical background, I believed him.
Javier, 34, was born in Stratford, Connecticut to a Dominican dad, a radio man and a Puerto Rican mom. After earning his musical degree from the University of Connecticut, he landed a job as vocalist for The Derek Trucks Band in 2000. After a two-year stint with the band, he decided to go solo and signed up with Capitol Records, completing two albums, the self-titled 'Javier' in 2003, and 'Left of Center' in 2006. The albums didn't do very well.
Javier decided to leave Capitol in 2006 and pursue an independent career, landing gigs with various singers. He had also set up his own record company but he was getting rejections all over the place. Things weren't working out for him. In 2011, he wanted to give up and just work as a music teacher. It was around this time when a new reality talent show "The Voice" was holding auditions. Javier's brother encouraged him to join. He was not too hot on the idea, afraid he would be rejected again.
His brother was insistent. "This is your chance to get nationwide exposure." Javier still wasn't convinced. His brother didn't let up. "You're not doing too well right now. What do you have left? What have you got to lose? There's no harm in trying," Ultimately, Javier agreed to go to the auditions. The rest, as they say, is history.
Javier won $100,000 and a recording contract with Universal Republic Records, which counts Enrique Iglesias and Akon among its prized talents.
I asked him if he bought anything special with the prize money. "Most of it went to the bank. I used some of the money to pay off some debts. I also took my wife and two daughters to Disney World in Orlando, Florida."
Other interesting facts about Javier that came out in the 30-minute interview:
He started writing songs when he was in seventh grade. He composed a song to convince a classmate to go out with him. The girl said yes and became his steady. The relationship lasted for four months. What do you expect from young lovers?
Javier did not audition for "American Idol" because it has an age limit, 30. He was already 34. As far as "X Factor" is concerned, he had already joined "The Voice" when Simon Cowell and company came to town.
He was concerned his experience with Capitol Records would disqualify him from the contest. However, he was told this was no problem as long as he didn't have an existing contract with any company.
During the blind auditions, where the judges based their decision on the contestants' voices alone, all four, Adam Levine, Cee-Lo Green, Blake Shelton and Christina Aguilera, chose him to be one of their finalists. Explaining his choice of Adam, Javier says, "I went for Adam because he really spoke like I would be an asset."
His daughters Solana and Amaia, aged three and a half and two, respectively, were actually rooting for another contestant, Vicci Martinez, and were sad that she lost to their dad. Javier was good-natured about this and even praised Vicci's musical talent. Of course, they were happy their father won. They were in the studio with their mom, Maureen, when Javier was proclaimed the winner.
His music education degree helped him improve his vocal technique. It also came in handy in the recording. "The musicians and I spoke the same language," explains Javier.
"The Voice" launches its second season on Monday, Feb. 6 at 7:15 p.m. on AXN (Channel 49 on Sky Cable.)
