Grammy-nominated salsa music pioneer Willie Colón dies aged 75 as Bad Bunny leads tributes to ‘renowned musician’
GRAMMY-nominated salsa legend Willie Colón has died aged 75.
Heartbreaking tributes have poured in for the musical pioneer – with Bad Bunny calling the star “one of the legends who contributed to this beautiful and legendary genre”.
The iconic artist passed away on Saturday surrounded by loved ones, his manager confirmed.
Colón was a trombonist, composer, arranger, singer and social activist.
Over his decades-long career, he produced more than 40 albums that sold more than 30 million copies worldwide.
His manager Pietro Carlos said: “Today, we’ve lost an architect of the New York sound, a trombonist who made metal his banner and wrote eternal chapters in our musical history.
“Willie didn’t just change salsa; he expanded it, politicized it, clothed it in urban chronicles, and took it to stages where it hadn’t been heard before.
“His trombone was the voice of the people, an echo of the Caribbean in New York, a bridge between cultures.”
He added: “Today we say goodbye to a master, but his legacy lives on.”
Meanwhile, Grammy-winner Bad Bunny said on Instagram: “Today, one of the legends who contributed to this beautiful and legendary genre passed away.”
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The star continued: “So, on behalf of myself and Los Sobrinos, we wish Willie Colón peace.
“Much strength to his family.
“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.”
Colón’s cause of death has not been confirmed, but Saturday’s tragic news follows reports from last week claiming that the star had been hospitalised for respiratory problems, according to TMZ.
A pivotal architect of urban salsa music, Colón collaborated with a long list of fellow icons, including the Fania All Stars, David Byrne and Celia Cruz.
His critically acclaimed collaboration with Rubén Blades, Siembra, which touched on social issues in salsa, became one of the bestselling albums in the genre of all time.
The musician, born to Puerto Rican parents, was nominated for 10 Grammys and one Latin Grammy.
Colón was born in the Bronx, New York, before being raised by his grandmother and aunt, who from a young age nurtured him with traditional Puerto Rican music.
When he was 11 years old he ventured into the world of music, first playing the flute, then bugle, trumpet and finally trombone.
His interest in trombone was sparked after experiencing Barry Rogers playing it on Dolores, Mon Rivera’s song with Joe Cotto.
He recalled in 2011: “It sounded like an elephant, a lion … an animal.
“Something so different that, as soon as I heard it, I said to myself: ‘I want to play that instrument.’”
Colón’s main musical traits included the fusion of rhythms.
The genius harmonized jazz, rock, funk, soul and R&B with the old Latin school of Cuban son, cha-cha-cha, mambo and guaracha.
His style also encompassed traditional Puerto Rican sound including jíbara, bomba and plena music.
A passionate advocate for civil rights, he fought mostly in the US for the Latino community among others.
In 1991 he was awarded the Chubb fellowship from Yale University, a public service recognition also awarded to John F. Kennedy, Moshe Dayan, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Ronald Reagan.
And he even served in politics – working as a special assistant to David Dinkins, New York’s first Black mayor, and an adviser to Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Colón had his own stints running for public office too – but had little luck challenging the then-US Rep. Eliot Engel in the 1994 Democratic primary.
In 2001 he also came in third in the Democratic primary for New York’s public advocate.
The late star also appeared in films such – taking roles in Vigilante, The Last Fight, and It Could Happen to You.
On TV, he featured in Miami Vice and Demasiado Corazón.
The icon also appeared in Bad Bunny’s music video for NuevaYol.
Colón is survived by his wife and four sons.