He replaced originally cast Willie Rosario in the pre-opening rehearsal period after Rosario suffered a prolonged knee injury.
In 1962, he signed with the Alegre Records label and traveled and performed with his band in Venezuela, Panama, Colombia, Mexico, Curaçao, U.S. Virgin Islands and all over the United States.
Willie Nelson | Willie Mays | Rosario | Rosario Dawson | Willie Horton | Willie Dixon | Willie Brown | Willie Colón | Willie Brown (politician) | Willie Revillame | Willie Miller | Rosario, Santa Fe | Rosario Fiorello | Rosario, Batangas | Willie Stargell | Willie Perdomo | Willie Pep | Willie Mitchell | El Rosario | Willie Thorne | Willie Sutton | Willie Roaf | Willie | Steamboat Willie | Shotgun Willie | Rosario La Spina | Metro El Rosario | Willie Worsley | Willie Wells | Willie Totten |
Arana composed hundreds of songs made popular by a wide variety of Puerto Rican artists, including Cano Estremera, Bobby Valentín, Willie Rosario, El Gran Combo, Cortijo y su Combo, Tito Rojas, Andy Montañez, Gilberto Santa Rosa, La Sonora Ponceña, Mario Ortiz and Mario Hernández, as well as Mexican artists, such as Adrián Alejandro.