NY K01029

Willie Colon, pioneering salsa trombonist and composer born in the South Bronx to Puerto Rican parents, died on February 21, 2026, at age 75

Released his first album "El Malo" at age 17 in 1967, selling over 300,000 copies, and joined Fania Records as a teenager to help pioneer salsa music

Collaborated with Ruben Blades on groundbreaking albums including "Siembra" and "Canciones del Solar de los Aburridos," featuring songs like "Tiburon" and "Ligia Elena"

Received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in 2004 and was named one of Billboard's 30 most influential Latin artists of all time in 2015

Served as a social activist on the Latino Commission on AIDS, United Nations Immigrant Foundation, and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute board, advocating for public health and immigrant rights