Willie Colón

Willie Colón
Willie Colón
Colón in 2023
Colón in 2023
Background information
Birth nameWilliam Anthony Colón Román
Born(1950-04-28)April 28, 1950
South Bronx, New York City, U.S.
DiedFebruary 21, 2026(2026-02-21) (aged 75)
Bronxville, New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • producer
  • activist
  • arranger
  • musical director
  • composer
  • singer


Instruments
Years active1967–2026
LabelsSonográfica, Fania, Sony
Websitewilliecolon.com

William Anthony Colón Román (April 28, 1950 – February 21, 2026) was an American salsa singer-songwriter, musician, actor, record producer, politician and social activist. He began his career as a trombonist. Colón was a pioneer of salsa music.[1][2] He was also known as a social activist in New York City.[3] His best known songs were "Pedro Navaja", "Aguanilé", "Tiburón", and "El gran varón".

He also acted in movies, including roles in Vigilante (1983), The Last Fight (1983), Miami Vice (1987), and It Could Happen to You (1994).

Colón was the chair of the Association of Hispanic Arts.[4][5]

Politics and activism

Colón was a civil rights, community, and political activist from the age of 16. He was a member of the Latino Commission on AIDS, president of the Arthur Schomburg Coalition for a Better New York, and member of the board of directors of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. In 1995, Colón became the first person of color to serve on the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) national board.[6][7] He was also a member of the ASCAP Foundation.[6][8]

In 1994, Colón ran against Representative Eliot Engel for the Democratic party primary for New York's 17th congressional district. He was lost the primary in a 62% to 38% vote. In 2001, Colón unsuccessfully ran for New York City Public Advocate.[9] He worked for the mayoral governments of David Dinkins and Michael Bloomberg.[10][11] In his later years, he became a critic of socialist foreign governments and his views became more right-wing.[12][13]

Death

Colón died on February 21, 2026 at a hospital in Bronxville, New York from respiratory failure at the age of 75.[14][15]

References

  1. ↑ "Willie Colón: 1950—: Salsa performer, producer, composer, activist". Encyclopedia.com. May 17, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Willie Colon: A legendary salsa pioneer, one of the first Fania Records signings, and a cultural hero throughout Latin America". AllMusic.com.
  3. ↑ "Hugo Chávez ahora se enfrenta a Willie Colón". El Espectador (in Spanish). September 7, 2010. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Association of Hispanic Arts". Latinoarts.org. Archived from the original on April 2, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Association of Hispanic Arts on NYC GOV Website". Home2.nyc.gov. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "LMEC Commissioners – Latin Media and Entertainment Commission". Home2.nyc.gov. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Willie Colón, salsa pioneer and activist, dies at 75". ABC News. February 21, 2026. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  8. ↑ "ASCAP Board". Ascap.com. April 1, 2006. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Gotham Gazette". Gotham Gazette. Archived from the original on September 14, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  10. ↑ Finder, Alan (July 9, 1992). "Tension in Washington Heights – Dinkins, Amid Crowd, Nurtures Fragile Peace". The New York Times. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  11. ↑ "LMEC Commissioner Willie Colon". Home2.nyc.gov. Archived from the original on June 2, 2010. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Hugo Chávez ahora se enfrenta a Willie Colón – Elespectador.com". September 7, 2010.
  13. ↑ Will Bredderman (January 17, 2017). "Meet the Michael Bloomberg-Loving Bronx Salsa Legend Now Singing the Praises of Donald Trump". Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  14. ↑ Taylor, Derrick Bryson; Bernstein, Adam (February 21, 2026). "Willie Colón, a Luminary of Salsa Music, Dies at 75". The New York Times. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Falleció Willie Colón, la leyenda de la salsa". La Jornada (in Spanish). February 21, 2026. Retrieved February 21, 2026.

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