Bad Bunny Leads Sao Paulo Tribute After Willie Colon Dies at 75
Legendary salsa figure willie colon has died at 75, a development confirmed by his lifelong manager Pietro Carlos on Saturday morning. The news prompted an onstage tribute from Bad Bunny during his concert in Sao Paulo, where the artist paused his performance to acknowledge Colón’s impact on Latin music.
Willie Colon's death and confirmation
Pietro Carlos, identified as Colón’s manager for life, confirmed the musician’s death on Saturday morning. The manager framed Colón’s career as transformative, saying that Colón expanded and politicized salsa, wrapped it in urban storytelling and carried it onto stages where it had not previously been heard, and that his trombone served as a voice for the people.
Bad Bunny pauses show at Allianz Parque
Bad Bunny interrupted his Saturday night set at Allianz Parque in Sao Paulo to lament the loss and tell fans that Colón’s influence will live on. The moment came during the second of two stadium concerts that are part of the artist’s world tour Debí Tirar Más Fotos. In a fan-filmed video shared online, Benito addressed the crowd with a message of condolence, asking for strength for Colón’s family and expressing hope that the inspiration left by great musicians will not die while young talent keeps Caribbean rhythms alive.
The performer acknowledged his recent chart success — his song "DtMF" recently rose to No. 1 on the Hot 100 after a Super Bowl performance — and is scheduled to continue the tour soon in Sydney, Australia. He was among several prominent Latin music figures who paid tribute on Saturday.
Reactions from fellow artists and peers
Rubén Blades, with whom Colón formed a celebrated duo, sent condolences to the musician’s wife and family and promised to write more about Colón’s legacy at a later time. Rauw Alejandro described Colón as a personal inspiration and guide who showed that cultural expression can be modern, creativity has no limits, and popular music can be sophisticated; he added that music made with truth endures. Rauw Alejandro’s own album Cosa Nuestra was inspired by a Colón work of the same title.
Willie Colon's recordings and landmark collaborations
Colón’s career included widely known recordings and partnerships. His body of work featured songs such as "Ché Ché Colé" and "Aguanile, " recorded with Héctor Lavoe; the collaborative album Celia and Willie with Celia Cruz; and the album Siembra, recorded with Rubén Blades, which is described as the best-selling salsa album of all time. These projects were highlighted in the immediate outpouring of remembrance following his death.
Label statement and the scope of Colón’s influence
The label that first signed Colón when he was 15 issued a statement on Saturday expressing heartbreak and calling him an icon whose sound transcended the dancefloor and defined an era. The statement characterized Colón as a pillar who helped carry Latin music from New York’s streets to audiences around the world, and said his music proclaimed identity, pride, resistance and joy — music that was not merely heard but lived.
Unclear details and what is known now
The provided context does not include a cause of death or other circumstances surrounding Colón’s passing; those details are unclear in the provided context. What is clear in the immediate aftermath is the breadth of reaction from performers, the confirmation by Pietro Carlos, the onstage tribute in Sao Paulo, and the reminders of Colón’s major recordings and collaborations that shaped modern salsa.
