Salsa music legend Willie Colón has passed away at 75. The Nuyorican pioneer, known for hits like ‘Calle Luna, calle Sol’ and his collaborations with Héctor Lavoe, died peacefully surrounded by family. His family announced the news, expressing gratitude for support while requesting privacy. Colón’s Grammy-nominated career leaves an indelible mark on Latin music.
Willie Colón, a musical legend who was best known for being one of the pioneers of the Salsa music genre, has passed away. He was 75 at the time of his passing.
Willie Colón passes away at 75
Taking to his social media account, his family announced the news of his passing in an official statement. They shared that the musician passed away in the early hours of February 21, and was surrounded by his loved ones. Their statement read, “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, and renowned musician, Willie Colón. 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.”The family further shared that they are grateful for the support and well-wishes; however would like to have some privacy in this moment of mourning.
All you need to know about Willie Colón
Willie Colón was one of the pioneers of the famed cultural Nuyorican salsa movement. The American musician was born on April 28, 1950, in the South Bronx area. Of Puerto Rican descent, Colón was involved in music from an early age. He started playing the trumpet from an early age and was later inspired to switch his instrument of choice to a trombone. His journey in the entertainment industry began at the age of 16 when he recorded his first album titled ‘El Malo’ with vocalist Héctor Lavoe. The two then started working as a duo and are credited for popularizing Latin music in the mainstream industry. Some of his most well-known songs include ‘Calle Luna, calle Sol’, ‘Abuelita’, ‘Ah, ah, oh, no’, and ‘Ghana’e’ to name a few. As for his accolades, Colón was a Grammy-nominated artist and was nominated eight times in the tropical music category.
Tributes pour in for Willie Colón
As soon as the post about his demise was shared online, fans rallied to the comment section to remember the legendary artist and share their wishes with the family. One of the comments from a netizen online read, “Rest in peace, maestro! My dear Willie, you were one of the fathers of salsa, and I feel incredibly privileged to have seen and heard you live in 2023 in Santiago, Chile, at the Movistar Arena. Your voice and your trombone were legendary. Fly high, dear Bad Boy of the Bronx!”Another person shared, “Nooo, my great idol (sad face emoji). Here we remember a great song, ‘NATURE.’ He hasn’t left, he’s just changed places. He hasn’t died, he won’t die, only NATURE has moved him. “His demise left a void in the hearts of his fans. Go to Source
