The world is mourning the loss of Willie Colón, who died Saturday at the age of 75. Since the announcement of the Nuyorican icon’s death, musicians have shared tributes to one of the greatest salsa artists of all time. From his contemporaries including Rubén Blades to acts that he’s inspired, such as Rauw Alejandro and Elvis Crespo, condolences are pouring in.
Colón’s family confirmed the death of the salsa giant, who was behind seminal classics in the genre such as 1967’s El Malo with Héctor Lavoe and 1978’s Siembra with Rubén Blades. The latter album landed at Number One on Rolling Stone’s Best Salsa Albums list and became the best-selling salsa album of all time, a distinction it held for decades.
On Instagram, Blades shared a short message for now and promised to expand on his longtime friendship with Colón in a future statement. He wrote, “What I was reluctant to believe: Willie Colón has indeed passed away. I send my deepest condolences to his wife Julia, his children, family, and loved ones. I will write more about Willie and his vital and important musical legacy later when I calm down.”
Another of Colón’s frequent collaborators was the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz, who died in 2003. One of their most beloved collaborative efforts was 1981’s Celia & Willie. In a statement, Cruz’s estate shared, “We will always treasure the magical moments that Willie and Celia shared, both on stage and in the studio. As the title of their iconic album together so aptly put it: ‘Only they could have made this album.’ Farewell, Willie. Your legacy and your music will resonate for eternity.”
Marc Anthony, who remade several of Colón and Lavoe’s classics for the 2007 soundtrack El Cantante, wrote in his Instagram stories, “Maestro, thank you for your legacy. Your music lives on forever. R.I.P. Willie.”
In recent years, salsa music has since seen a revival among today’s contemporary Latin pop stars. Rauw Alejandro’s 2024 album Cosa Nuestra was titled after Colón’s 1969 album of the same name. In his Instagram stories, Alejandro wrote, “For me, personally, your art inspired me and guided me. It showed me that what’s cultural can also be modern, that creativity doesn’t have limits, that what’s popular can be sophisticated, and that when music is made with truth, it lasts forever. Rest in peace, maestro.”
Elvis Crespo also shared his tribute to Colón. In a statement, Crespo said, “He was a genius artist who adapted seamlessly from musician to producer, from producer to backup singer, and from backup singer to lead vocalist. His confidence led him, as a producer, to create hits with different singers. I only had one opportunity to meet him backstage in New York. THANK YOU, MAESTRO WILLIE COLÓN, FOR YOUR ART! May God welcome you to the rhythm of ‘La Murga.’ Rest in peace.”
