Willie Colón, Salsa Pioneer, Dies at 75 on February 21, 2026
Updated (5 articles)
Family Announces Peaceful Passing on February 21 Willie Colón died on Saturday, February 21, 2026, with his family posting a heartfelt Facebook notice that he “passed away peacefully” surrounded by loved ones; no cause of death was disclosed [1][2][3][4][5].
Bronx Roots, Fania Deal at Fifteen, First Album at Seventeen Born in the Bronx on April 28, 1950, he began on trumpet at age 11‑12 before switching to trombone; his mother negotiated a $500 contract when Fania Records signed the 15‑year‑old prodigy [1][2][3][5]. He recorded his debut album El Malo in 1967 at age 17, launching his six‑decade recording career [1][2][5].
Rubén Blades Partnerships and Siembra Set Salsa Sales Record – The 1975 collaboration Metiendo Mano! introduced Rubén Blades, and their 1978 joint album Siembra sold over three million copies, remaining salsa’s top‑selling record according to Billboard [1][2][3][4]. He also arranged for Celia Cruz, performed with the Fania All Stars, and was name‑checked by Bad Bunny in “NUVEAYoL,” underscoring his lasting cultural imprint [2][3][4][5].
Awards, Honors, and Civic Service Mark His Legacy Colón earned 15 gold and five platinum records, ten Grammy nominations, and the Latin Recording Academy’s 2004 lifetime‑achievement Grammy [2][4][5]. Inductions include the International Latin Music Hall of Fame (2000) and Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame (2019); he received Yale’s 1991 Chubb Fellowship and served as special assistant to NYC mayors David Dinkins and Michael Bloomberg, while advocating with the Latino Commission on AIDS and the UN Immigrant Foundation [1][4][5].
Contemporary Artists Cite His Influence Rauw Alejandro’s 2024 album Cosa Nuestra directly references Colón, and Bad Bunny’s tribute in “NUVEAYoL” highlights his role as a touchstone for new Latino musicians [1][2][3].
Sources
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1.
Newsweek: Willie Colón, Salsa Icon and Activist, Dies at 75: Details undisclosed cause of death, early trumpet‑to‑trombone switch, $500 Fania contract, Siembra sales, multiple hall‑of‑fame inductions, and his civic work including the Yale Chubb Fellowship.
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BBC: Willie Colón, salsa legend dies at 75: Confirms peaceful family‑announced passing, outlines six‑decade career, sales milestones, collaborations with Rubén Blades, and peer accolades describing him as an architect of the New York sound.
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Le Monde: Willie Colon, salsa legend, dies at 75: Reports February 21 death, emphasizes early trumpet start, debut El Malo at 17, work with Celia Cruz and Rubén Blades, and Bad Bunny’s tribute in “NUVEAYoL.”
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WBNS (Columbus, OH): Salsa Legend Willie Colón Dies at 75: Highlights family Facebook announcement, 30 million units sold, manager Pietro Carlos’s praise, ten Grammy nominations, 2004 special Grammy, and advisory roles for NYC mayors.
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CNN: Salsa Legend Willie Colón Dies at 75, Family Announces: Notes family Facebook confirmation, teenage Fania signing, El Malo sales figures, fusion of jazz‑rock‑salsa, 2004 lifetime‑achievement award, and extensive activism with Latino advocacy groups.
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Timeline
Apr 28, 1950 – Willie Colón is born William Anthony Colón Román in the Bronx to Puerto Rican parents, later becoming a seminal figure in salsa and Latin music [1].
1961 – At age 11 he receives a trumpet from his grandmother, beginning his musical training before switching to trombone, the instrument that defines his sound [3].
1965 – At 15 his mother negotiates a $500 contract and he signs with Fania Records, launching his professional career under founders Johnny Pacheco and Jerry Masucci [3].
1967 – He releases his debut album El Malo at 16/17, which eventually sells over 300,000 copies and helps propel salsa onto the global stage [2][5].
1970 – He issues La Gran Fuga, cementing his reputation as a prolific recording artist within the burgeoning Fania catalog [2].
1972 – He follows with El Juicio, further expanding his innovative blend of jazz, rock, and Afro‑Latin rhythms [2].
1975 – He records Metiendo Mano! introducing Rubén Blades and pioneering “intellectual salsa,” a socially conscious turn for the genre [1].
1978 – He and Rubén Blades release Siembra, which becomes salsa’s best‑selling album with over three million copies sold, a benchmark still cited by Billboard [3][1].
1991 – He receives Yale University’s Chubb Fellowship for public service, joining a distinguished roster that includes John F. Kennedy and Jesse Jackson [3][4].
2000 – He is inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame, recognizing his decades‑long impact on Latin music worldwide [3].
2004 – He earns a Latin Recording Academy lifetime‑achievement award and a special Grammy, honoring his 40‑plus recordings, 30 million sales, and ten Grammy nominations [1][4].
2019 – He enters the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame, underscoring his lasting influence as a composer and lyricist [3].
2024 – Bad Bunny name‑checks Colón and El Malo in the hit “NUVEAYoL,” while Rauw Alejandro releases Cosa Nuestra, a tribute album that cites Colón’s legacy as inspiration [1][3].
Throughout his career – He serves on the Latino Commission on AIDS, the United Nations Immigrant Foundation, and the board of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, and acts as special assistant to NYC mayors David Dinkins and Michael Bloomberg, reflecting his deep civic activism [2][3][4].
Feb 21, 2026 – Willie Colón dies peacefully at age 75 surrounded by family; his longtime manager Pietro Carlos posts on Facebook that “he was an architect of the New York sound,” highlighting his cultural imprint [1][4][5].