Willie Colón, a towering figure in salsa music whose innovative trombone playing and socially conscious lyrics reshaped the genre, died Saturday at the age of 75, his manager Pietro Carlos confirmed. The news was met with an outpouring of grief from across the Latin music world, including a tribute from Bad Bunny during his concert in São Paulo, Brazil.
During the second night of his “DeBÍ Tirar Más Fotos World Tour” at Allianz Parque, Bad Bunny paused his performance to acknowledge Colón’s passing. “Today, one of the legends who contributed to this beautiful and legendary genre passed away,” he told the audience, according to fan-filmed video circulating on social media. He extended condolences to Colón’s family and emphasized the importance of preserving salsa and Caribbean rhythms through the work of emerging artists.
Colón’s influence extended far beyond his instrumental skill. He was known for infusing salsa with elements of jazz, funk, and other genres, and for addressing social and political issues in his music. Carlos described Colón as someone who “didn’t just change salsa. He expanded it, politicized it, clothed it in urban chronicles and took it to stages where it hadn’t been before.”
In recent years, Colón had been critical of contemporary music trends, including reggaeton, and even voiced disapproval of Bad Bunny’s music. In December 2025, he publicly accused Bad Bunny’s record label of using bots to inflate streaming numbers on Spotify, according to reports. Despite this, Bad Bunny chose to honor Colón’s legacy on stage, demonstrating the late musician’s enduring impact on a recent generation of artists.
Colón’s career spanned decades, and he collaborated with numerous prominent musicians. Notably, he worked with Bad Bunny on the music video for “Nuevayol,” even referencing Colón’s debut album in the lyrics, demonstrating a complex relationship that ultimately culminated in a public acknowledgement of his importance. His history on Billboard’s charts reflects a consistent presence and influence within the Latin music landscape.
The circumstances surrounding Colón’s death have not been publicly disclosed beyond the confirmation from his manager. As of Sunday, February 22, 2026, no further details have been released by his family or representatives.
