Willie Colón, the trailblazing American salsa musician, has died. He was 75.
Colón died Saturday morning, his family shared in a statement on his Facebook page. No cause of death was detailed.
“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,” the statement read. “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. 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.”
Born and raised in the Bronx, Colón had an early musical talent, playing the trumpet and trombone. He signed his first contract, with Fania Records, at 15. His debut album El Malo was released two years later when he was 17.
Throughout his career, he has released a plethora of projects and worked alongside the likes of Celia Cruz, David Byrne, Soledad Bravo and Ismael Miranda. Colón has a total of 10 Grammy Award nominations, and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Recording Academy in 2004.
He was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2019.
Outside of music, Colón was also an activist, serving as a member of the Latino Commission on AIDS and the United Nations Immigrant Foundation.
“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 of Craft Recordings’ Latin catalog. “His legacy is etched into the very soul of Latin culture. He will forever be ‘El Maestro.’”
