One of Salsa’s most iconic figures, William Anthony Colón Román, known simply as Willie Colón, died on Saturday after being hospitalized on Friday in New York City due to respiratory complications.
Colón was born in the South Bronx in New York City to Puerto Rican parents on April 28, 1950. He later became one of the leading artists to brand the unique Nuyorican Salsa movement that took off in New York City during the late 1970s.
The tunes were a blend of traditional Afro-Caribbean rhythms familiarized in Puerto Rico and a classic Puerto Rican Bomba beat specialized by other New York Salsa heavyweights during the era, like Héctor Lavoe, Frankie Ruiz, Tito Puente, and later Panamanian music artist, Rubén Blades.
Willie Colón dominated the genre for a whole decade, producing over 40 albums, most notably, Siembra, in which he partnered with Blades, and earning nine Gold Records and five Platinum Records.
Colón sold more than eight million records worldwide during his height at the top of the New York Salsa industry.
In 1969, Colón’s “Che ché colé” stole the heart of tens of thousands by bringing a vivacious recipe of Latin America’s Afro-Caribbean music to one of the largest Hispanic communities in the United States.
During the early 1970s, Colón worked with fellow Puerto Rican artist Héctor Lavoe and popularized songs like “Calle Luna, calle Sol”, “Abuelita”, “Ah, ah, oh, no”, “Ghana’e”, “El día de mi suerte”, “La murga”, and “Juana Peña”, among others.
Later in life, Colón battled with colon and liver cancer and underwent chemotherapy.
On Friday, long-time friend and music partner, Rubén Blades, issued a statement on social media offering support for his friend after reports were released that indicated Colón was hospitalized at Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville, due to respiratory complications.
On Saturday, Colón’s close family and relatives announced that the Salsa legend had died, surrounded by those he loved.
