Willie Colon dies at 75 — Bronx-raised salsa legend and 'Gitana' creator

willie colon, the trombonist, composer and orchestra leader credited with shaping urban salsa, died at 75, his family said, noting he passed in the morning surrounded by loved ones. He had been hospitalized a few days earlier at Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville, New York for cardiac and respiratory problems.

Willie Colon: family announcement and hospitalization

The family released a statement expressing deep sadness and gratitude for the music and memories he leaves behind. The musician was admitted to Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville with heart and breathing difficulties and died at age 75 while in the care of his family. The statement described his passing as peaceful and highlighted the lasting nature of his recordings.

Raised in the South Bronx, tied to Manatí

Born on April 28, 1950, in the south Bronx to Puerto Rican parents, willie colon was raised by his grandmother Antonia, who taught him Spanish and reinforced his Puerto Rican identity. His grandmother, from Manatí, played a central role in his upbringing and in nurturing his early musical interest. He first received a trumpet at age 11, later learning clarinet and ultimately becoming known for the trombone that defined much of his sound.

Musical legacy: hits, Fania and collaborations

Across a career that began with a first record made when he was a teenager, willie colon built a catalog that included classics such as "Idilio" and "Gitana" and brought urban street aesthetics into salsa. He rose to prominence during the emergence of the genre in New York, linking jazz, mambo, son, jíbara and chachachá elements. His work moved through the influential record label Fania, and his early partnership with Héctor Lavoe produced some of the duo's best-known songs.

Later associations included productions with Celia Cruz, Ismael Miranda and the musical partnership that introduced Rubén Blades on a 1977 record; subsequent collaborations with Blades produced albums that incorporated stronger political and social themes. Over decades, his image and musical approach—often described as irreverent and streetwise—helped popularize salsa beyond New York and into the Caribbean and beyond.

There is an open question about whether a poem by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer inspired the song "Gitana"; that detail remains unclear at this time.

Key takeaways

• willie colon died at 75 after a recent hospitalization for cardiac and respiratory issues.
• Raised in the south Bronx and shaped by his grandmother from Manatí, he became a defining voice in urban salsa.
• His legacy includes early teen recordings, key collaborations, and a catalog likely to prompt tributes and renewed attention.

Looking ahead, the musician's long career and central role in major recordings and collaborations mean his passing will likely prompt tributes, memorial programming and renewed listening to his body of work. Exact plans for public memorials or commemorations were not specified in the family announcement and remain not publicly confirmed.