Willie Colón, Salsa Pioneer, Dies at 75
Willie Colón, the Bronx-born trombonist, bandleader and composer, died on Saturday, Feb. 21, at age 75, his family said; the cause of death was not disclosed.
Overview
Willie Colón died on Saturday, Feb. 21, at age 75, his family said.
Colón helped define salsa with trombone-led arrangements and collaborations with Héctor Lavoe and Rubén Blades, and his work on Siembra was described as a high-water mark for the genre.
His family said they 'grieve his absence' and 'rejoice in the timeless gift of his music' in a statement posted on his official Facebook page.
Biographies and reports say he released between more than two dozen and more than 60 albums, he signed with Fania Records at age 15, and his 1967 debut El Malo sold more than 300,000 copies.
The family asked for privacy and for prayers and support as they navigate their grief, and no cause of death was disclosed in initial statements.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame Colón’s death with a celebratory, commemorative tone, using laudatory descriptors like "legendary" and "renowned" and prioritizing career milestones, activism, and honors. They foreground a family statement and omit critical perspectives or cause-of-death details, producing a respectful tribute rather than investigative coverage.
Sources (7)
FAQ
Willie Colón pioneered urban salsa music through trombone-led arrangements, fusing jazz, rock, funk, and traditional Latin rhythms, and his collaborations with Héctor Lavoe and Rubén Blades, especially the album Siembra, became bestsellers.
History
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