Willie Colón, urban salsa pioneer, dies at 75

Willie Colón, a Grammy-nominated trailblazer in the world of urban salsa and a well-known activist, passed away on Saturday at the age of 75.

During his remarkable career, the trombonist, composer, arranger, and vocalist produced over 40 albums, achieving global sales of more than 30 million copies.

He collaborated with an array of artists, including the Fania All Stars, David Byrne, and Celia Cruz.

His iconic collaboration with Rubén Blades on “Siembra” became one of the best-selling salsa albums ever, with the pair frequently addressing social issues through their music.

Colón's death was confirmed by his family and manager on social media.

"Willie didn’t just revolutionize salsa; he expanded its range, weaved political themes through it, infused urban narratives, and introduced it into new venues," wrote manager Pietro Carlos. 

"His trombone was the voice of the people, resonating with the Caribbean flair in New York, connecting two cultures."

Colón, who garnered nominations for 10 Grammys and one Latin Grammy, was celebrated for memorable songs like "El gran varón," "Sin poderte hablar," "Casanova," "Amor verdad," and "Oh, qué será."

Blades shared on X, acknowledging “what I hesitated to accept,” and expressed his condolences to Colón’s family.

Originating from the Bronx in New York, Colón was raised by his grandmother and aunt, who introduced him early to traditional Puerto Rican melodies and the signature rhythms of Latin American music, like Cuban son and tango.

At the age of 11, he began his musical odyssey, initially playing the flute, moving on to the bugle, trumpet, and eventually settling on the trombone, which became his signature instrument within the rising salsa movement.

His fascination with the trombone began after hearing Barry Rogers perform on “Dolores,” a song by Mon Rivera featuring Joe Cotto.

“It sounded like an elephant, a lion … something wild. I listened and thought: ‘That’s the instrument I want to play,’” he shared in a 2011 chat with the Colombian publication El Tiempo.

At just 17, he became part of the group of artists forming the legendary record label Fania Records, led by Jerry Masucci and Johnny Pacheco.

Fania was instrumental in cultivating the new sound emanating from New York’s Latin community, which came to be known as “salsa.”

Colón’s unique attribute as a musician was his rhythmic fusion, blending jazz, rock, funk, soul, and R&B with the seasoned Latin styles of Cuban son, cha-cha-cha, mambo, and guaracha while adding the nostalgia of traditional Puerto Rican music styles like jíbara, bomba, and plena.