Javier Colon
With a soulful voice that blends folk and R&B, he carved his own path to become the inaugural champion of the groundbreaking TV show 'The Voice'.
Born 1978 (age 48)·American singer-songwriter·Birthday: April 29·Generation X
Biography
Javier Colon's journey is a testament to resilience and the power of a pure voice. Long before reality television, the Connecticut-born singer was a working musician, lending his smooth, emotive tenor to bands like The Derek Trucks Band and navigating the fickle waters of the major label system. His early solo career showed promise but stalled, leading him to independent work and teaching guitar. His big break arrived in an unexpected arena: the first season of NBC's 'The Voice' in 2011. There, stripped of gimmicks, his authentic acoustic-soul style—a blend of heartfelt songwriting and technical grace—connected instantly. Winning the competition didn't just revive his career; it validated an artist who had been honing his craft for years. Colon's story is not just about a television victory, but about an artist who maintained his musical integrity through industry ups and downs, ultimately finding a national audience on his own terms.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Javier was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Javier Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Javier's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first-ever winner of the American singing competition 'The Voice' in 2011.
- Released multiple solo albums, including 'Come Through for You' on a major label after his 'Voice' win.
- Performed as a touring and recording member of the Grammy-winning Derek Trucks Band.
- Built a sustained career as an independent artist with his own label, Javier Colon Music.
- Has collaborated with artists like Joss Stone, Anthony Hamilton, and Adam Levine.
Did You Know?
He is a multi-instrumentalist, proficient in guitar, piano, and drums.
He coined the term 'acoustic soul' to describe his blend of folk, pop, and R&B influences.
Before 'The Voice,' he taught guitar lessons to make ends meet.
He performed the national anthem at Game 2 of the 2011 World Series after his win.
He was initially signed to Capitol Records in the early 2000s under the mononym 'Javier'.
“I call my music 'acoustic soul' because it's a mixture of a lot of the stuff I grew up listening to.”
