Johnny Colon is salsa royalty. Leader of the legendary Johnny Colon Orchestra and founder of the East Harlem Music School, he ascended the throne with his 1967 album, Boogaloo Blues, which popularized a sultry and swinging blend of R&B, soul, and mambo. He continues in his reign at the helm of his band, with soulful singing and smoking stints on percussion, piano, and trombone. With his most recent album, Keeping It Real, he puts his own unique spin on the Great American Songbook.