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Dozens of Latin artists bid farewell to the legendary American musician Willie Colón, who passed away this Saturday at the age of 75.
So far, the cause of death has not been officially reported, although reports indicate that the trombonist was receiving medical attention for respiratory complications.
The news generated an immediate wave of reactions in the Latin music world, which for decades has been enriched by the talent of this salsa legend.
The Panamanian singer-songwriter Rubén Blades, who shared a key stage of his career with Colón, expressed: “I have just confirmed what I was reluctant to believe: Willie Colón has indeed passed away. (…) Later on, I will calmly write about Willie and his vital and important musical legacy,” he hinted on Instagram.
The salsa artist Víctor Manuelle remembered him as a “producer and visionary” and highlighted that he was responsible for “a new sound of salsa.” “A man of strong character, but he always treated me with great respect. His legacy will remain in history,” he wrote.
From Colombia, Grupo Niche mourned the passing of the “trombonist, composer, producer, and absolute reference of our culture,” emphasizing that his music “will remain alive in every corner where a clave is played.”
The Puerto Rican Tito Nieves also described him as “a pillar of salsa and a visionary who forever changed our music,” while other artists such as the Cubans Alexander de Primera and Timbalive expressed that “music is in mourning.”
Born in 1950 in the Bronx, New York, of Puerto Rican descent, Willie Colón was one of the most influential figures in the history of salsa. At the age of 17, he signed with Fania Records and quickly became a central figure in the salsa boom of the 1960s and 1970s.
His partnership with Héctor Lavoe resulted in iconic albums such as El Malo (1967), The Hustler (1968), and Cosa Nuestra (1969), defining the sound of New York salsa with the prominence of the trombone and lyrics that depicted life in Latino neighborhoods.
In the 1970s, his collaboration with Rubén Blades produced landmark albums such as Metiendo Mano! (1977) and Siembra (1978), the latter being considered one of the most important and best-selling albums in the history of the genre. Songs like "Pedro Navaja" and "Plástico" expanded the narrative and social reach of salsa, solidifying Colón's status as one of its great innovators.
With his departure, the salsa universe loses one of its most daring architects. However, his legacy remains in every trombone that resonates and in every generation that continues to find in his music identity, memory, and Latino pride.
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