Willie Colon and a Wave of Tributes: willie colon, a Luminary of Salsa, Dies at 75

willie colon died Saturday morning at the age of 75, his family confirmed, and the announcement has prompted an outpouring of tributes from artists across generations. The cause of death has not been disclosed, and musicians from Bad Bunny to Rubén Blades and Rauw Alejandro have offered public remarks on his influence and legacy.

Willie Colon’s passing confirmed by family; cause of death not disclosed

Colón’s family confirmed the death on Saturday morning and confirmed he was 75 years old. The family statement, as described in coverage of the reaction, noted the death but did not provide a cause. The news has prompted widespread mourning among artists and fans worldwide.

Bad Bunny paid tribute in São Paulo and name-checked Colón onstage

At his Debí Tirar Más Fotos world tour stop in São Paulo, Brazil, Bad Bunny paid tribute to Willie Colón from the stage. He said, “This music is very special. It’s the influence of all of us who grew up listening to salsa in the Caribbean, ” then moved into his song “NUEVAYoL. ” He added, “From me and Los Sobrinos, we wish Willie Colón rests in peace, ” referencing his live band, and said, “Much strength to his family. ”

Bad Bunny also name-dropped Colón in the first verse of his LP Debí Tirar Más Fotos, rapping, “Willie Colón, me dicen ‘el malo, ’” a line that references Colón’s 1967 debut album El Malo. The track “NUEVAYoL” is described as a homage to Nuoyorican icons like Colón and samples Andy Montañez Rodríguez’s rendition of El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico’s “Un Verano en Nueva York” against a boisterous dembow beat. Coverage noted that Bad Bunny recently closed a halftime show at Super Bowl LX and performed at the Grammys, underscoring the large platforms from which he paid his tribute.

Rubén Blades, Rauw Alejandro and Marc Anthony among those offering condolences

Rubén Blades posted on Instagram that he struggled to accept the news and sent “my deepest condolences to his wife Julia, his children, family, and loved ones. ” Blades said he will write more about his longtime friendship with Colón later, when he calms down. Rauw Alejandro referenced Colón’s influence in his own work: his 2024 album Cosa Nuestra was titled after Colón’s 1969 album of the same name. In Instagram stories Rauw wrote, “For me, personally, your art inspired me and guided me. It showed me that what’s cultural can also be modern... Rest in peace, maestro. ”

Marc Anthony, who remade several Colón and Héctor Lavoe classics for the 2007 soundtrack El Cantante, wrote in his Instagram stories, “Maestro, thank you for your legacy. Your music lives on forever. R. I. P. Willie. ”

Elvis Crespo and Celia Cruz’s estate honor Colón’s artistic range and collaborations

Elvis Crespo called Colón “a genius artist who adapted seamlessly from musician to producer, from producer to backup singer, and from backup singer to lead vocalist, ” and recalled meeting him once backstage in New York before adding, “THANK YOU, MAESTRO WILLIE COLÓN, FOR YOUR ART! May God welcome you to the rhythm of ‘La Murga. ’ Rest in peace. ”

Colón’s collaborations with the Queen of Salsa are also part of his recorded legacy. One noted collaboration was the 1981 album Celia & Willie. The estate of Celia Cruz, who died in 2003, said they will always treasure the magical moments that Willie and Celia shared on stage and in the studio, citing the album title’s suggestion that “Only they could have made this album, ” and added a farewell, saying his legacy and music will resonate for eternity.

Career milestones: El Malo, Siembra and the best-selling salsa album distinction

Colón was behind seminal recordings that shaped salsa. He recorded 1967’s El Malo with Héctor Lavoe, and he and Rubén Blades worked together on 1978’s Siembra. Siembra reached Number One on a noted Best Salsa Albums list and became the best-selling salsa album of all time, a distinction it held for decades.

Controversies, social media criticism and Colón’s own response to being name-checked

Coverage noted that many fans have pointed out Colón held right-wing views later in life and that his social media presence across Instagram and X included criticism of Bad Bunny. Despite those tensions, when Bad Bunny’s song name-checked him, Colón responded positively in a social media video: “When I heard it, I was really surprised. The push it gave to salsa and to Boricuas, it’s something we all needed, ” he said.