Augie B. "Lopaka" Colon Jr.
Born to the “Sophisticated Savage”, Augie Colón Sr. (original member of the Exotic sounds of Martin Denny), Augie Borero “Lopaka” Colón Jr. has followed in his fathers’ footsteps and is taking those steps forward to the next generation. Lopaka Colón graduated from Moloka’i High School in 1992 with a scholarship to attend the University of Hawaii (U.H.) @ Manoa. He attended U.H. for 6 years majoring in Ethnomusicology with a minor in Spanish language. While in the U.H. Music program, Lopaka performed with the U.H. marching band, Symphonic and Jazz ensembles. He also played Afro-Cuban rhythms off and on campus in a Percussion group named “Campus Drummers” headed by Robert “Sango” Russell. As a student, Lopaka intergrated the teachings of his father, private Afro-cuban/Classical percussion lessons, and U.H. schooling into his own unique style.
Lopaka Colón is an established percussionist and multi “Na Hoku Hanohano” award winner (Hawaii’s version of the Grammy’s).