The emblematic trombonist, composer and salsa performer Willie Colón died this Saturday at the age of 75, due to health complications in a New York hospital.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father and renowned musician, Willie Colón. He departed peacefully this morning, surrounded by his loving family. Although we mourn his absence, we also rejoice in the eternal gift of his music and the cherished memories he created, which will live forever,” notes a statement from his family.
“Our family is deeply grateful for your prayers and support during this time of mourning. We kindly ask for privacy as we navigate our grief,” added the document issued by those close to William Anthony Colón Román, the first name of the singer of “El gran varón,” according to a report from EFE.
Colón was born on April 28, 1950 in the Bronx neighborhood of New York, where he grew up within the vibrant Puerto Rican community of that city and always identified as Puerto Rican, where his parents were from.
He had great successes with the singers Héctor Lavoe and Rubén Blades, who upon learning of his admission yesterday had written that he sent him his wishes “for a speedy recovery” and joined “the thousands of people who pray that he recovers his health quickly.”
According to the National Foundation for Popular Culture, an organization based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Colón recorded his first album in 1967. The bad one At the age of 16 with Héctor Lavoe, with whom he created one of the most important salsa duos of the Fania Records record company.
In fact, 16 albums from his extensive career were recorded with Lavoe; 6 with Blades and four with Celia Cruz, as he remembers cnn. He also has live productions and other collaborations.
Among its classic songs is the version of “Idilio”, composed by the Puerto Rican Alberto “Titi” Amadeo and popularized in Cuba in the nineties by the octogenarian Laito Sureda, former singer of the Sonora Matancera.
Columbus’s voice gave life to another classic, The Great Mana song by Omar Alfanno that, at the time of its appearance, was one of the main criticisms of intolerance towards the LGTBI issue, points out Week.
Willie Colón, aims cnnhas a record of more than 32 albums, which have earned him nine Gold Records and five Platinum Records.
He has sold more than 30 million records worldwide.
Colón has been nominated eight times for the Grammy Awards in the tropical category. He has also acted in film and television in productions such as VigilantThe Last Fight, Dip and the soap opera The intruder.
