sports
February 21, 2026
“Thank you for your legacy”: the reactions of salsa masters to the death of Willie Colón
This Saturday, February 21, Willie Colón, the Puerto Rican singer and trombonist who revolutionized the Caribbean genre in more than six decades of artistic career, passed away. His death was confirmed through a Facebook post made by his family.
TL;DR
- Willie Colón, a renowned Puerto Rican singer and trombonist, passed away at 75.
- His death was announced by his family via Facebook.
- Colón was hospitalized in his native New York before his passing.
- Salsa artists, including Grupo Niche, Bobby Valentín, Tito Nieves, and Víctor Manuelle, have expressed their sorrow and paid tribute to his influential career.
- Colleagues praised his innovative sound, artistic force, and the indelible mark he left on salsa music.