'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYH/8QAIRAAAQMDBAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDEQAFEgQTMUEGByH/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/8QAFxEBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQARAv/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8Al/KfZLt7seub1aG1bjSTgAfq0jAEyIHJJ7kCOazRm5WPZRvaF1TuIzIiCe+6Uo8mk1y//9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The music industry is in shock over salsa music pioneer Willie Colón's passing. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter said goodbye to the world at the age of 75 on February 21, 2026. His passing is a significant blow to Latin music. Bad Bunny even paid tribute to him.
His personal life came into the public eye in the meantime. Willie Colón's wife Julia Colon Craig supported him over his decades-long career. As per ABC7, Julia and their children survive him. The family said on Colon's Facebook page that they grieve his absence.
"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 family shared.
The cause of death was not disclosed.
Billboard magazine named the Puerto Rican musician among the most influential Latino artists of all time. Willie Colón sang in Spanish and his career spanned nearly 60 years.
Julia Colon supported Willie through recovery after he suffered spinal issues and head injuries:
Julia Colon largely avoided the spotlight. As per a report shared by GTV News, she did this despite being married to one of salsa’s most prominent figures. Willie and Julia were wed for over thirty years. The creative community acknowledged Julia for her contribution to the preservation of Willie's artistic legacy.
Julia first gained notoriety in April 2021. She and Willie Colon were engaged in a major recreational vehicle accident in North Carolina. Both of them suffered serious injuries in the collision.
Willie suffered spinal and head injuries. Julia was released from the hospital before her husband. However, she was hurt as well. Willie had a long time to recuperate from the accident and Julia was by his side despite the tragedy. The marriage went through a challenging time, however her unwavering support enabled him to manage the demands of both his medical rehabilitation and his professional music career.
Willie Colón grew up in New York during the emergence of the salsa sound in the 1960s:
Willie grew up in New York in an environment marked by Latin migration. As per a report shared by BBC, street life and Caribbean music shaped his upbringing. The salsa sound emerged in the US state in the 1960s. BBC's Mundo said it mixed jazz, mambo, jíbara music and chachachá.
His manager Pietro Carlos said in a statement on social media that the music industry lost an architect of the New York sound.
"Today, We've lost an architect of the New York sound, a trombonist who made metals his banner and wrote eternal chapters in music history," Carlos shared.
He talked about Colón's impact on music.
"From 'El Malo' to anthems that defined generations, his work wasn't just music, it was identity, neighborhood, consciousness, and resistance," Carlos said.
Carlos said that Colón expanded and politicised salsa music. He took it to stages where it hadn't been heard before. Carlos explained that Colón used his trombone to echo the sound of the Caribbean in New York. He bridged the two cultures.
The salsa legend was name-checked in Nuevayol by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny recently. Colón briefly appeared in the song's music video. Bad Bunny paid homage to Colón in the song's lyrics.
"Willie Colón, me dicen el malo, ey. Porque pasan los años y sigo dando palo," Bad Bunny sang.
This translates to a tribute about Colón's lasting impact.
"Willie Colón, they say I'm bad, because the years come and I'm still hitting," the lyrics said.
Bad Bunny paused São Paulo concert to mourn Willie Colón's death and honor his legacy:
Bad Bunny paused his performance in São Paulo, Brazil on February 21 to acknowledge the death of Willie Colón. As per a report shared by Billboard, the legendary salsa musician and leader was behind many of the most influential salsa records in Latin music.
Bad Bunny mourned the loss with his audience at Allianz Parque. He told the São Paulo crowd of music fans that Colón's impact will live on.
"Today, one of the legends who contributed to this beautiful and legendary genre passed away,"
Benito is heard saying in Spanish in a fan-filmed video uploaded to Instagram. The video was from the second of two nights he headlined the stadium on his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour.
"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," Bad Bunny said.
Bad Bunny's DtMF recently soared to No. 1 on the Hot 100 after his Super Bowl performance. He was among a number of prominent names in Latin music to pay tribute to Colón.
Willie Colón released El Malo in 1972. As per a report shared by BBC, it was one of the first albums to feature the New York Sound. His website said it sparked a renewed interest in Latin music during the 1970s.
Trending
He also produced music alongside Rubén Blades, Celia Cruz and Ismael Miranda. As a solo artist, he continued to relentlessly pursue new musical fusions. These included El Gran Varón, Oh, Qué Será and Amor Verdadero.
The artist accumulated more than 40 productions throughout his career. He sold 30 million copies. He earned 15 gold records, five platinum records, and 10 Grammy nominations.
Love movies? Try our Box Office Game and Movie Grid Game to test your film knowledge and have some fun!
Reply
