Willie Colón, salsa pioneer, dies at 75
Salsa icon Willie Colón dies at 75 as his family and fans honor his legacy and timeless music.
Music superstar Willie Colón, who helped define the salsa genre in the 1970s and ’80s, died on Saturday, Feb. 21, his family confirmed on social media. He was 75.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, and renowned musician, Willie Colon. He passed away peacefully this morning, surrounded by his loving family,” a statement shared on his Facebook page reads.
“While we grieve his absence, we also rejoice in the timeless gift of his music and the cherished memories he created that will live on forever,” the statement reads. “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.”
Throughout his career, the New York-born musician was nominated for 10 Grammy Awards and received a lifetime achievement award at the Latin Grammys in 2004.
He collaborated with music icons, including Héctor Lavoe and Celia Cruz. Alongside Rubén Blades, he recorded the 1978 album “Siembra,” the best-selling salsa album of all time.
Born in the South Bronx of New York City in 1950 and raised in a Puerto Rican household, Colón took to music at an early age, learning to play the trumpet and trombone. By the time he was a teenager, he landed a record deal with Fania Records and released his debut album, “El Malo,” in 1967 before turning 18.
Aside from music, he was a proud activist who was appointed a representative advisor to former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg and a liaison to the New York City Latin Media & Entertainment Commission in 2003, a role he served for over a decade.
Colón was also a member of the Latino Commission on AIDS and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, as well as the ASCAP national board, becoming the first person of color to join.
He also made time for acting with roles in films like 1982’s “Vigilante,” 1983’s “The Last Fight” and 1994’s “It Could Happen to You.” On television, he guest-starred as a drug dealer in a 1987 episode of “Miami Vice” and played himself on a 1992 episode of “The Cosby Show.”
“From those roots grew a profound devotion to culture, heritage, and truth. He did not simply represent his community; he amplified it,” Craft Recordings said in a statement shared with USA TODAY. “Beyond music, Willie was a voice for his community — an activist and a public servant. He understood that rhythm could move people, but also hearts—and that songs could spark change.”
With over 40 albums, he captivated listeners with his portrayal of the Puerto Rican experience.
Last year, he appeared in the music video for Bad Bunny’s “Nuevayol,” off the Super Bowl headliner’s Grammy-winning album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.”
(This story was updated to add a video and resolve a typo.)
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