Willie Colón

Willie Colón (born William Anthony Colón Román in New York City on 28 April 1950; died 21 February 2026) was an American musician and social activist remembered as a pioneer of salsa music. In September 2004, Colón received the Lifetime Achievement Award from The Latin Recording Academy. In 2015 Billboard magazine named Willie Colón one of the 30 most influential Latin Artists of All Time. Colón began his career as a trombonist but also sang, wrote, produced and acted.