Javier Colon (alternately styled
Javier Colón, born April 29, 1978) is an American singer and songwriter from Hartford, Connecticut. He has referred to his style of music as being "acoustic soul." He was a member of EmcQ and The Derek Trucks Band, and worked with many musicians before going solo. From 2002 to 2006, he was signed to Capitol Records, known as artist
Javier. In 2006, however, the contract was terminated and Javier Colon became an independent artist with his own label,
Javier Colon Music. In 2011, he was the winner of the inaugural season of the U.S. television show on NBC,
The Voice, receiving $100,000 and signing a recording contract with Universal Republic Records. Javier Colon eventually decided to part ways with Universal Republic.
Colon was born in Stratford, Connecticut, His father worked in a radio station. He went to Frank Scott Bunnell High School in Stratford, Connecticut, where he started writing songs. Then he pursued a degree in music education from the University of Hartford's Hartt School. While studying, Javier also performed as vocalist and percussionist in EmcQ, a soul/funk band led by lead guitarist Ian McHugh and mainly dedicated to the legacy of Stevie Wonder.
When EmcQ opened a show for the soul-jazz trio Soulive, the group's guitarist, Eric Krasno, was impressed by Javier's vocals and recommended him to his friend Derek Trucks, who he knew was looking for a lead vocalist for The Derek Trucks Band.
After touring with the band for nearly two years, Javier, then 24 years old, left the band in April 2002 to pursue a solo career, and recorded an EP on his own label, Javier Colon Music. On stage, Javier's primary instruments are steel and nylon stringed acoustic guitars by Larrivée (guitar company) and Taylor Guitars. In 2009 he was featured as singer and songwriter for song, "October Sky", on Vanessa Williams's vocal album,
The Real Thing.