Willie Colón, a Luminary of Salsa Music, Dies at 75
The great musician, arranger, and composer Willie Colón has died, age 75.
One of the pillars of NYC salsa, his own albums and those on which he collaborated with such stars as Héctor Lavoe, Celia Cruz, and Rubén Blades are among the classics of the genre and of Latin music, more generally.
He was a social activist and registered Democrat for much of his life, serving as a member of the Latino Commission on AIDS and, unsuccessfully, running for a U.S. House seat to represent the Bronx. Because de mortuis nil nisi bonum, Colón’s inexplicable 180° in recent years to support the current administration will go unremarked here.
A giant of the music.
aav.
Willie Colón feat. Héctor Lavoe, “El Malo”
Celia Cruz, Willie Colón, “Dos Jueyes”
Willie Colón, Rubén Blades, “Pedro Navaja”
But, really, you need to listen to all of Siembra:
Album · 1978 · 7 Songs
