Willie Colón, the Bronx-born trombonist, bandleader, producer, and songwriter who helped define the sound and attitude of New York salsa, died on February 21, 2026. He was 75.

Willie Colón was one of salsa’s defining architects, known for his sharp, brassy trombone sound, streetwise storytelling, and the hard-driving New York style that helped shape the Fania era. A Bronx-born son of Puerto Rican parents, he rose quickly from teenage bandleader to global star, recording landmark albums, producing and arranging classic hits, and collaborating with Héctor Lavoe and Rubén Blades on some of the genre’s most influential work. His music helped carry salsa from the neighborhoods of New York to dance floors across Latin America and the world.

From the Bronx to Fania Records, the rise of Willie Colón

Born to Puerto Rican parents in New York City, Colón started young and moved fast. He signed with Fania Records as a teenager, and by 1967 he was already making waves with his debut album El Malo, a record that announced a bold new voice in Latin music.

That early run was explosive. Along the way, Colón’s collaborations with Héctor Lavoe became some of the most influential recordings in the genre, mixing hard-hitting arrangements with irresistible swing, barrio storytelling, and a gritty New York edge that felt entirely of its time and still sounds alive today.

Career highlights that shaped a generation

Colón left a massive mark on salsa music. Here are a few career highlights that define his legacy:

• A central figure in the Fania era, helping define the label’s New York sound as a bandleader, arranger, and producer, and bringing that movement to international audiences through Fania’s flagship projects.
• A landmark run of albums and hits that helped bring salsa into the mainstream, including El Malo, Cosa Nuestra, and La Gran Fuga, plus enduring classics like “Che Che Colé” and “Aguanile.”
• A career built on reinvention, blending Afro-Caribbean roots with jazz, funk, and other contemporary influences, while keeping his arrangements powerful, danceable, and driven by percussion and brass.
• An era-defining collaboration with Rubén Blades on Siembra, widely regarded as a landmark salsa album and a turning point for socially conscious salsa.
• Recognition at the highest levels, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Recording Academy (2004).

His impact on salsa music

What set Willie Colón apart was not only his trombone sound or fame, but his impact as a bandleader, arranger, and producer.

He helped shape a distinctly urban New York salsa style, grounded in the Puerto Rican diaspora and the realities of city life. Through bold arrangements and story-driven songs, he helped broaden salsa’s subject matter, bringing in sharper narratives, social themes, and cultural pride while keeping the music built for the dance floor.

Colón’s music became a foundation for dancers as well as listeners. His recordings remain staples in salsa clubs and classes, prized for their drive, dynamics, and unforgettable coros.

Most popular songs and essential listens

Here are some of the tracks most often associated with Colón’s legacy, a mix of classics, crowd staples, and signature recordings:

“Pedro Navaja” (with Rubén Blades):

“Ché Ché Colé” (with Héctor Lavoe):

“Aguanile” (with Héctor Lavoe):

“Juanito Alimaña” (with Héctor Lavoe):

“El Gran Varón”:

“Idilio”: