music
February 23, 2026
Willie Colón's son's heartbreaking message: "Dad, I want to call you"
The departure of legendary musician, trombonist, arranger, and American producer Willie Colón has shocked not only the salsa world, but music in general. Family, friends, followers of his career, and artists from different genres have expressed their recognition of the musical greatness of the so-called bad boy from the Bronx and the transcendence of his work in the history of Latin music.
TL;DR
- Salsa legend Willie Colón has passed away, confirmed by his family on February 21st.
- His son, Alejandro Miguel Colón, shared an emotional message on Instagram mourning his father's death.
- Colón, born in the Bronx, was a trombonist, arranger, producer, and poet who started his career at 16.
- He is renowned for his influential work with Héctor Lavoe under the Fania Records label, creating hits like 'Calle Luna, Calle Sol'.
- Colón recorded over 32 albums, achieving multi-platinum success and leaving a significant mark on Latin music history.