The Latin music world is mourning the loss of Willie Colón, the legendary American salsa musician, trombonist, arranger, bandleader, and producer, who passed away peacefully on February 21 at the age of 75. His family announced the news via social media, with his longtime manager, Pietro Carlos, confirming the death and articulating Colón's profound impact: "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 before. His trombone was the voice of the people."

Born William Anthony Colón Román in New York to Puerto Rican parents, Colón's early life in the tough South Bronx deeply influenced his music and artistic imagery. He picked up the trumpet at 11, was mentored by an African-American trumpeter in his neighborhood, and by 15, had formed his own band. His talent was quickly recognized, leading to a signing with Fania Records for $500. His 1967 debut album, "El Malo," recorded alongside the legendary Héctor Lavoe, marked the beginning of a prolific and transformative career.

Colón was a pivotal figure in the evolution of Nuyorican salsa, instrumental in propelling the genre from the streets of New York's barrios to international acclaim. Throughout the 1970s, he became a cornerstone of the salsa revolution, joining labelmates like Larry Harlow, Johnny Pacheco, and Bobby Valentín for the iconic Fania All Stars at the Cheetah concert in 1973, an event that further solidified salsa's global prominence. He was a "quadruple threat," as recognized by Fania founders Johnny Pacheco and Jerry Masucci, not just a masterful performer but also a visionary songwriter, arranger, and producer, playing his trombone with an unmatched style.

His collaborations with other salsa greats are legendary. With Héctor Lavoe, he created seminal hits such as "Ché Ché Colé," "Aguanile," and albums like "Cosa Nuestra" and "Asalto Navideño." Their partnership was a "great combination" that defined an era. His work with Ruben Blades formed another legendary duo, producing groundbreaking albums like "Metiendo Mano" (1977), which introduced Blades to the world, and "Siembra" (1978), which remains the biggest-selling salsa album of all time and features the hit "Pedro Navaja." Their collaboration also pioneered socially conscious salsa with songs like "Pablo Pueblo," which addressed themes beyond mere dancing. Colón also famously collaborated with the "Queen of Salsa," Celia Cruz, on the album "Celia and Willie," a testament to their shared musical magic.

Colón forged a history on Billboard’s charts spanning more than four decades. His chart debut came with "Criollo" (1984) on the Top Tropical Albums chart. He found greater success with "Especial No. 5," which hit No. 13 on Top Tropical Albums in 1986 and yielded his first Hot Latin Songs appearance with "Lo Que Es De Juan." Throughout his lifetime, Colón secured seven top 10s on Top Tropical Albums, including "Celia y Willie" (with Celia Cruz), "Cosa Nuestra" (with Héctor Lavoe), "Tras La Tormenta" (with Ruben Blades), and "Top Secrets," with new entries in the upper tier stretching from 1989 to 2021. His song "El Gran Varón" also reached No. 13 on Hot Latin Songs in 1989, and "Tras La Tormenta" hit No. 5 on the Tropical Airplay chart in 1995. The album's title track also earned him his only top 10 on the Top Latin Albums chart, reaching No. 9. Even in death, his influence resonated on the charts, with his "Greatest Hits" reaching a new No. 11 high on the Top Tropical Albums tally dated February 21, and subsequent charts expected to reflect increased activity following his passing.

Tributes poured in from across the Latin music spectrum, reflecting the immense legacy Colón leaves behind. Bad Bunny paused his São Paulo concert to acknowledge Colón’s passing, stating, "Today, one of the legends who contributed to this beautiful and legendary genre passed away... The inspiration of so many of these great musicians who left their mark on this earth will never die." Ruben Blades, his former collaborator, expressed disbelief and promised to write more about Colón's "vital and important musical legacy." Rauw Alejandro, whose 2024 album "Cosa Nuestra" was inspired by Colón’s 1970 LP of the same name, profoundly noted, "Personally, your art inspired and guided me: it taught me that culture can also be modern, that creativity has no limits, that popular music can be sophisticated, and that music, when made with truth, lasts forever."

Other prominent figures such as Marc Anthony, Elvis Crespo, Oscar D’León, Grupo Niche, Olga Tañón, Farruko, Fonseca, Jerry Rivera, and Lin-Manuel Miranda shared heartfelt condolences and praised Colón's transformative impact. Fania Records stated their heartbreak, recognizing him as "a pillar" who helped bring Latin music from New York to global audiences, declaring his music "identity, pride, resistance, and joy... not just heard; it was lived." The Latin Recording Academy, which honored him with a special lifetime achievement award in 2004, highlighted how his legacy "transformed salsa by turning it into a global phenomenon, establishing a sound and aesthetic that defined an era and continues to inspire generations of artists."

Willie Colón's colorful life, anchored by his beloved New York, also included forays into politics, art, and film. However, all stemmed from his origins and his music. He recorded more than 40 studio albums and toured literally until his death, always emphasizing that he "only cared about the music." His immense contributions were recognized with an induction into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 2000, the Latin Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004, and the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2019. In 2015, Billboard included him in its list of the 30 most influential Latin acts of all time. Bruce McIntosh, VP Latin of Catalog, Craft Recordings (owners of Fania), aptly summarized his stature: "Willie was much more than an iconic artist; he was a true visionary that forged a new genre of Latin music that we all love today called Salsa. His legacy is etched into the very soul of Latin culture. He will forever be ‘El Maestro.’"