Rising Stars: Meet Uziel Colón Ramos

I started taking formal piano lessons while in high school at the Conservatory of Music and even was allowed to take advance music and piano lessons at the University of Puerto Rico – since it was just across the street. During my senior year, I got accepted to Berklee College of Music, but it was not until 2 years later that I was able to attend after being awarded a scholarship during their Berklee in Puerto Rico program. The creative blood ran in both sides of my family, but I would be the first one to pursue music as a career and, at that time, one of few ones to leave Puerto Rico.

My life completely changed at Berklee College of Music. It had been my dream to attend this school, but never imagined what it would mean to meet people from different parts of the world that shared the same passions as me. I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Composition while at the same time immersing myself in all types of musical gigs, such as: arranging for bands, performing at jazz clubs, playing at recording sessions, touring, etc. I stayed in Boston for several more years after my graduation because I had met the love of my life, who, a year after graduating, would become my wife: Maria.

In 2009, my wife and I decided to move to California to pursue our dreams of joining the entertainment industry. I went to Cal Arts for a semester to pursue a Masters in Jazz Studies but quickly got offered a job at the Latin Recording Academy (Latin GRAMMYs), so I left Cal Arts. I would later earn a Master’s Degree in Commercial Music from Cal State LA while working full-time for the Grammys.

At the Latin GRAMMYs, I was able to work for the Awards Department and help with all aspects involving the process of music submission, voting, award shipping, etc. I later switched to the Recording Academy (GRAMMYs) and continued on the same line of work. In addition, I managed the Latin, Gospel/CCM, and Music for Visual Media fields closely and met some of the most amazing artists and music peers, and learned tons about music marketing, production, and songwriting by attending some of the most passionate and insightful meetings. One of my last contributions to the organization was to help create the Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games And Other Interactive Media category.

In the summer of 2022, I decided to leave the Academy to embark on the academic journey by accepting a tenure-track assistant professor position at Cal State LA. My job now is to coordinate the Afro-Latin Music Master’s Program and teach an array of classes that include commercial and jazz piano, arranging, songwriting, and producing. I also direct the CSULA Afro-Latin Ensemble.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth road…not at all. I took piano seriously after that major accident during my teenage years, after finding solace on a previously ignored keyboard. Leaving Puerto Rico and my family to pursue my dreams was extremely hard, and it somewhat still is. Working as a freelancer in Boston after graduating from Berklee was very difficult at times, going from gig to gig. Moving to California to “start again” was once again hard, leaving everything behind to start all over again. Taking a job at the GRAMMYs was a big transition for me, a music creative now moving in an office setting, learning the ins and outs of a new form of working etiquette and a different type of professionalism. And now, another change has come about; a full-time teaching position working in higher education at a university. I guess the road less traveled is full bumps, hehe. There has often been a roadblock in front of every major decision that I have ever made in my life, and though it hasn’t always been smooth sailing, I have had endless encouragement from loved ones, and guidance from great mentors. I have gladly carved my way out into the unknown throughout my whole life.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?I run (as far as I know) the only  Master Program in Afro-Latin Music at an academic level. It focuses on teaching history, as well as arranging and performing the music that Latin America inherited in the aftermath of colonization and slavery. A very dark time in history indeed, but it left the world with some of the most amazing music, including Salsa, Cumbia, Bachata and Reguetón, among others.

As a composer/performer, I like to mix my Latin culture with my knowledge of jazz and classical styles to create music that reflects who I am. I am proud of the music that I have released, especially my last project where I reimagined the 80s through a jazz lens, and I am currently working on more original music.

What does success mean to you?
In my opinion, success has many layers. I believe that success relates more to your personal life rather than to what you do to earn a living. Of course, what you do for work will affect many areas in your life, but you can’t really buy happiness or health. So to me, the secret is to enjoy the little things in life and to never take yourself too seriously. To always stay open to learning new things and to recognize before going to sleep that you gave your best to that specific day.