Salsa pioneer Willie Colón has died; Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Rauw Alejandro & others pay tribute

Salsa pioneer Willie Colón passed away on Saturday (2/21) at age 75. His family broke the sad news, writing:

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, and renowned musician, Willie Colon. He passed away peacefully this morning, surrounded by his loving 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.

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.

Colón was born in the South Bronx in 1950 to Puerto Rican parents, and by age 16 he had already recorded his debut album, 1967’s El Malo. To quote his AllMusic biography by Craig Harris, the album “was one of the first to feature the ‘New York Sound’ that sparked a renewed interest in Latin music during the 1970s.” The album also helped launch the career of pioneering salsa singer Héctor Lavoe, who sang in Colón’s band for many years before launching a prolific solo career. Colón collaborated with other singers as well, including Celia Cruz, Soledad Bravo, Ismael Miranda, and Rubén Blades, and he played on David Byrne’s debut solo album Rei Momo. In addition to his music career, he also acted, including a role in 1982’s Vigilante, which Colón and Lavoe did the classic soundtrack for.

Bad Bunny paid tribute to Colón on stage in Brazil, saying (translated by Pitchfork), “The inspiration of so many of these great musicians who left their mark on this earth will never die as long as there are talented young people like those here, keeping the music, salsa, and all Caribbean rhythms alive.”

Rauw Alejandro wrote in his Instagram stories, “For me, personally, your art inspired me and guided me. It showed me that what’s cultural can also be modern, that creativity doesn’t have limits, that what’s popular can be sophisticated, and that when music is made with truth, it lasts forever. Rest in peace, maestro.”

J Balvin, Farruko, Marc Anthony, Romeo Santos, Fat Joe, and others paid tribute too.

Rest in peace, Willie Colón.