Willie Colon, Renowned Puerto Rican Salsa Musician, Dies at 75
willie colon, a towering figure in salsa and the Nuyorican movement, died Saturday at the age of 75, his family confirmed in a message posted on his social media accounts. The family said he departed peacefully that morning, surrounded by his loving family, and asked that his music and memories be celebrated.
Family statement and circumstances of death
His family posted a message on Facebook announcing the death and saying, in part, that they "mourn his absence" while rejoicing in "the eternal gift of his music and the cherished memories it created, which will live on forever. " The Puerto Rican artistic community had been asking for prayers for the singer-songwriter on Friday, as he was receiving medical attention for reported respiratory complications.
Willie Colon’s early life and musical training
Born William Anthony Colón Román on April 28, 1950, in the South Bronx of New York City, Willie Colón began formal musical education with the elementary school flute and later discovered the bugle, which he began to master as a hearing child at age 11. He encountered the trumpet at 13 and began taking lessons, and at 16 he recorded his first album, "El Malo, " with Héctor Lavoe in 1967.
Career milestones and defining recordings
With Héctor Lavoe, Willie Colón formed one of the most important salsa duos on the Fania record label and popularized songs such as "Calle Luna, calle Sol, " "Abuelita, " "Ah, ah, oh, no, " "Ghana'e, " "El día de mi suerte, " "La murga" and "Juana Peña. " In 1969 his recording "Che ché colé"—a Ghanaian song set to a Puerto Rican bomba rhythm—became a salsa classic even as some resisted accepting it.
Productions, collaborations and solo career
In 1976 he produced the ballet "El baquiné de los angelitos negros, " which ushered in what the context calls his symphonic salsa era. After his recording period with Lavoe, he launched a career as a singer, releasing albums including "The Good, Bad and The Ugly" and "Solo". In 1977 he introduced Rubén Blades to the recording industry with the album "Metiendo mano, " and the two collaborated in later years. The context also notes that he launched his solo career in 1979.
Discography, sales and screen appearances
Willie Colón boasted a discography of over 40 albums, earned nine Gold Records and five Platinum Records, and sold more than eight million records worldwide. The record count included 16 LPs to his credit, with collaborations listed as including Lavoe, six LPs with Rubén Blades and four with Celia Cruz. He was nominated eight times for Grammy Awards in the tropical music category and also acted in film and television productions such as "Vigilante, " "The Last Fight, " "Salsa, " "Miami Vice" and the telenovela "La Intrusa. "
Unfinished text in the original account and what comes next
The provided account ends mid-sentence with the fragment "His record a"—unclear in the provided context. The article does not state any scheduled public events, memorial plans or next steps.
The family message posted on Facebook is the primary confirmation of his death; additional details about services or public remembrances are unclear in the provided context.
