Salsa Legend Willie Colón Dies at 75 After Six-Decade Career

Willie Colón, the legendary salsa trombonist and social activist, died on Saturday at the age of 75.Known as the architect of urban salsa, Willie Colón sold over 30 million albums and collaborated with icons such as Rubén Blades and Héctor Lavoe.Beyond his musical achievements and ten Grammy nominations, he served as a special assistant to Michael Bloomberg and David Dinkins.Willie Colón also championed civil rights and AIDS awareness before performing his final concert with the Puerto Rico Philharmonic Orchestra in 2025.