Hartt Graduate Javier Colon Featured On NBC's The Voice 4/26

Hartt graduate Javier Colon ‘00 appears on NBC's new show "The Voice," which premiers Tuesday, April 26, at 9:00 PM on NBC. Colon also is featured in a promo for the show (singing "Time after Time"), available at www.nbc.com/the-voice/video/theyll-know-it-when-they-hear-it/1316382/. To learn more about Javier, visit his web site at www.javieronline.com.

About Javier Colon '00: Blessed with a stunningly soulful voice, uncanny writing ability, and a commanding stage presence, international recording artist Javier Colon has created his own unique style of music that can be described as an eclectic blend of R&B, Folk, Soul, Rock, and Country.

Javier's musical gifts brought him to The Hartt School of the University of Hartford, where he founded an R&B based a cappella quintet that performed at Harlem's legendary Apollo Theater. Javier graduated from Hartt with a degree in Music Education, and soon afterwards he started on his path as a world-class performer as the lead singer for a neo-funk group (called EmCQ), dedicated to the legacy of Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, Tower of Power, and others. "Being in that band really helped me grow vocally. I had never fronted a band or done anything like that before. I found another gear that I could kick into that I didn't know I had," he said.

When that band opened for neo-funk luminaries Soulive, Javier's performance drew the attention of Soulive guitarist Eric Krasno, who recommended Javier to be the lead singer for jam-band heroes the Derek Trucks Band, led by Allman Brothers guitarist Derek Trucks. Javier spent nearly two years touring with Trucks, exploring onstage everything from rock and soul to blues, jazz, and beyond. While he found the experience illuminating, ultimately Javier had to go it alone. A subsequent three-song solo demo started a bidding war, landing him with Capitol Records. After releasing two successful full-length albums with Capitol, Javier made the bold decision to cast off the "urban R&B" mold created for him by the label and pursue a career playing music derived directly from his heart and soul. Javier currently tours the world with a whole new sound, opening for the likes of Joss Stone and The Indigo Girls. He is blazing his own new trail through the landscape of contemporary music with every melodious note and harmonies guitar strum.

The Hartt School is the comprehensive performing arts conservatory of the University of Hartford that offers innovative degree programs in music, dance, and theatre. Founded in 1920, Hartt has been an integral part of the University of Hartford since its charter merged the then Hartt School of Music, the Hartford Art School, and Hillyer College to create the University in 1957. 2010 marked Hartt's 90th year of providing world class performing arts education to students in Greater-Hartford and around the world. With more than 400 concerts, recitals, plays, master classes, dance performances, and musical theatre productions a year, performance is central to Hartt's curriculum. For more information about The Hartt School, visit www.hartford.edu/hartt.