Salsa Legend Willie Colón Dies at 75 After Influential Career

Willie Colón, the legendary salsa trombonist and activist who redefined Latin music, passed away on February 21, 2026, at the age of 75.A pioneer of the Nuyorican movement, the Bronx-born icon was celebrated for his collaborations with Héctor Lavoe and Rubén Blades.Throughout his career with Fania Records, he released over forty albums and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Academy.Beyond music, Willie Colón was a political candidate for the US House of Representatives and an advocate for the Latino Commission on AIDS.