Willie Colon, the Bronx-born trombonist who helped define the sound of New York salsa, has died at 75. A pioneer, activist and cultural force, Colon reshaped Latin music for nearly six decades. Beyond the hits and headlines, here are 10 lesser-known facts about the man who transformed salsa into a global movement.
He started on trumpet before switching to trombone
Growing up in the South Bronx, Willie Colon first picked up the trumpet at age 12. He later switched to trombone, inspired by the all-trombone sound of Mon Rivera and Barry Rogers, shaping the bold brass tone that defined his career.
He signed to Fania Records at just 15
While most teenagers were focused on school, Colon was already in the studio. By 17, he had recorded El Malo, which went on to sell more than 300,000 copies.
He helped create salsa’s “gangster” image
Colon leaned into a streetwise aesthetic on his album covers long before it became culturally common, reshaping how salsa artists could present themselves visually.
He performed at Paris’ Bataclan after the 2015 attacks
In 2018, Colon became the first Latin artist to perform at the historic venue following the terrorist attack, marking a powerful moment of cultural resilience.
He became the first person of color on ASCAP’s national board
In 1995, Colon replaced Stephen Sondheim on the ASCAP national board, breaking barriers within one of music’s most influential organizations.
He graduated from a police academy in his 60s
In 2014, Colon was sworn in as a Deputy Sheriff for Westchester County’s Department of Public Safety and later rose to Deputy Lieutenant.
He appeared in film and television
Beyond music, Colon acted in Vigilante, The Last Fight, an episode of Miami Vice titled Cuba Libre, and It Could Happen to You.
Siembra became one of the best-selling salsa albums ever
His 1978 collaboration with Ruben Blades sold more than 3 million copies and helped expand socially conscious themes within Latin music.
He joined Bono and Quincy Jones in a Vatican debt relief initiative
In 1999, Colon participated in the Jubilee 2000 delegation, advocating for global debt forgiveness that ultimately led to billions in relief for developing nations.
He released more than 40 albums and sold over 30 million records
Across nearly six decades, Willie Colon built one of the most influential and commercially successful catalogs in salsa history, reshaping the sound of New York and Latin music worldwide.