Willie Colón, the legendary salsa musician, actor and social activist, has died. He was 75.
The Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner died “peacefully” on Saturday morning, surrounded by family, according to a statement. A cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, and renowned musician, Willie Colon,” his official Facebook page announced on Saturday. “He passed away peacefully this morning, surrounded by his loving family.”
The statement continued, “While we grieve his absence, we also rejoice in the timeless gift of his music and the cherished memories he created that will live on forever. 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.”
Born April 28, 1950 in the Bronx neighborhood of New York City, Colón learned to play trumpet and trombone from a young age, signing to Fania Records at age 15.
Colón released his debut album El Malo at age 17 in 1967, selling more than 300,000 copies. With more than 60 albums released over the years, much of his music depicts the Puerto Rican experience.
Last year, Colón appeared in Bad Bunny’s ‘Nuevayol‘ music video.
As an actor, Colón appeared in films like Vigilante (1982), The Last Fight (1983) and It Could Happen to You (1994), as well as episodes of Miami Vice and The Cosby Show.
Colón was also an activist, serving as NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s representative advisor and liaison to the Latin Media Entertainment Commission. He also served on The Latino Commission on AIDS and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, in addition to becoming the first person of color to serve on the ASCAP national board.