Photo Credit: Willie Colón (Craft Latino)
Salsa legend and multi-hyphenate musician Willie Colón passed away on Saturday, his family and record label confirmed over the weekend. He was 75.
Multi-talented salsa legend Willie Colón—a trombonist, composer, arranger, vocalist, producer, and bandleader—passed away on Saturday at the age of 75. His family confirmed the news on social media, as did his record label, Fania Records.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, and renowned musician, Willie Colón. He passed away peacefully this morning, surrounded by his loving family,” read the statement from his family. “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.”
“We are heartbroken by the passing of an icon whose sound transcended the dance floor and defined an era. A pillar of Fania Records, Willie helped bring Latin music from the streets of New York to audiences around the world,” read Fania Records’ statement, shared with Digital Music News. “His music declared identity, pride, resistance, and joy. His music was not just heard; it was lived.”
Born and raised in New York City, in the heart of the Bronx’s Latin community to Puerto Rican parents, Willie Colón was an early musical talent. His mother signed him to his first contract when he was just 16. From his 1967 debut, El Malo, to his numerous collaborations with Héctor Lavoe, Rubén Blades, Celia Cruz, David Byrne, Soledad Bravo, and Ismael Miranda, Colón refined salsa with the depth of his influence.
“Willie was much more than an iconic artist; he was a true visionary that forged a new genre of Latin music that we all love today called salsa,” said Bruce McIntosh, VP, Latin Catalog, Craft Recordings. “His legacy is etched into the very soul of Latin culture. He will forever be ‘El Maestro.’”
Over the course of his career, Colón sold over 30 million records worldwide, earning nine Gold and five Platinum releases. His accolades include a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Latin Recording Academy in 2004, his induction into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 2000, and the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2019. He was also one of Billboard’s 30 Most Influential Latin Artists of All Time in 2015.
Besides his storied career as a musician, Colón was an avid sociopolitical activist, and also appeared in many film and television productions, including “Miami Vice,” “Salsa,” “The Last Fight,” and “Vigilante.”
