Willie Colón is a Puerto Rican-American trombonist, composer, bandleader, and producer, widely regarded as one of the architects of the salsa sound that took over New York City in the 1970s. Born in the South Bronx in 1950 to a family of Puerto Rican descent, he picked up the trumpet at twelve before switching to trombone at fourteen, and by seventeen he had already released his debut album, El Malo, on Fania Records.
Colón's brash, trombone-driven arrangements helped define the gritty, street-smart "New York sound" that turned salsa into a citywide phenomenon. His long partnership with singer Héctor Lavoe produced some of the genre's most beloved records, while his later collaboration with Rubén Blades on Siembra became one of the best-selling salsa albums of all time.
Beyond the bandstand, Colón has been an outspoken advocate for Latino communities, campaigning on immigration reform, education, and criminal justice. His music remains a touchstone of Nuyorican pride, capturing the voice of a generation navigating two cultures at once.