Willie Colón, salsa legend and music pioneer, dies at 75
Willie Colon performs in his concert "50 YEARS" at Coliseo Jose M. Agrelot on November 12, 2016 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by GV Cruz/WireImage)
Willie Colón, the iconic salsa musician and key figure in the Nuyorican salsa movement, died Saturday at the age of 75, his family announced in a statement shared on his Facebook page.
A cause of death was not given.
What they're saying:
"It is with deep sorrow that we share the news of the passing of our beloved husband, father and celebrated musician, Willie Colón," the statement said. "He died peacefully this morning, surrounded by his loving family. As we mourn his loss, we also celebrate the enduring legacy of his music and the treasured memories he leaves behind."
"Our family is deeply grateful for your prayers and support during this time of mourning. We kindly ask for privacy as we navigate our grief."
The backstory:
According to LA Philharmonic, Colón was born in the South Bronx in 1950 to Puerto Rican parents. Inspired by the all-trombone sound of Mon Rivera and Barry Rogers, he began on trumpet before switching to trombone.
Signed to Fania Records at age 15, he recorded his debut album at 17, launching a career that helped define modern salsa.
Blending salsa with jazz, rock, and Afro-Caribbean traditions, Colón became one of the genre’s most influential figures. His collaborations with artists including Héctor Lavoe, Rubén Blades, Celia Cruz, and the Fania All-Stars shaped the sound of Latin music in the 1970s and beyond. Siembra, his landmark recording with Blades, remains one of the best-selling salsa albums of all time. In 2015, Billboard named him among the 30 Most Influential Latin Artists of All Time.
Colón’s work often explores themes of Puerto Rican identity and the diasporic experience in the United States.
In recognition of his artistic achievements, he received the Latin Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 2004. Beyond music, he has been active in film, publishing, and civic life, serving in leadership roles with national arts and advocacy organizations and as a longtime community activist.
The Source: The information in this story comes primarily from a statement shared by Willie Colón’s family on his official Facebook page announcing his death. This story was reported from Los Angeles.