American salsa legend Willie Colon, the pioneering trombonist, vocalist and composer, died on Saturday at age 75, his household stated in a press release.
“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 household stated on Colon’s Facebook web page.
The reason behind loss of life was not disclosed.
Born within the Bronx to Puerto Rican dad and mom, Colón recorded dozens of albums together with La Gran Fuga (The Big Break) in 1970 and El Juicio in 1972, based on Fania Records, a label that promoted salsa music.
He signed with Fania at age 15 and two years later, in 1967, launched his first album El Malo, which has offered greater than 300,000 copies, based on his biography on the LA Philharmonic web site.
Colón’s music mixed components of jazz, rock and salsa, incorporating the rhythms of conventional music from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Africa, the biography stated.
“A significant overarching theme in Colón’s music—which draws from many cultures and several different styles—is an exploration of the competing associations that Puerto Ricans have with their home and with the United States,” it stated.
“He uses his songs to depict and investigate the problems of living in the U.S. as a Puerto Rican and also to imply the cultural contributions that Puerto Ricans have to offer.”
In 2004, he acquired a lifetime achievement award from the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
A longtime social activist, Colón was a member of the Latino Commission on AIDS and the United Nations Immigrant Foundation and was a board member on the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, based on the biography.
© Thomson Reuters 2026.