| First Name |
Willie
|
| Last Name |
Colon
|
| Full Name at Birth |
William Anthony Colón Román
|
| Alternative Name |
El Malo, William Anthony Colón Román, El Malo Del Bronx, Willie Colón, El Varón de la Salsa
|
| Birthday |
28th April, 1950
|
| Birthplace |
South Bronx, The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
|
| Died |
21st February, 2026
|
| Place of Death |
New York City, New York, USA
|
| Zodiac Sign |
Taurus
|
| Sexuality |
Straight
|
| Nationality |
American
|
| Occupation Text |
Musician, producer, activist
|
| Occupation |
Musician
|
| Music Genre (Text) |
Salsa, Bolero
|
| Music Genre |
Latin
|
| Year(s) Active |
1966–present, 1967–present, 1967–2026
|
| Music Style |
Salsa, New York Salsa, World Fusion, Latin Jazz, Jazz, Latin Soul, Boogaloo, Puerto Rican Traditions, Tropical
|
| Music Mood |
Confident, Rousing, Boisterous, Spicy, Energetic, Carefree, Summery, Visceral, Exuberant, Aggressive, Playful, Passionate, Fiery, Fun, Warm, Party/Celebratory, Earthy, Organic, Cheerful, Joyous, Freewheeling
|
| Instrument |
Trombone
|
| Instrument (text) |
Vocals, Trombone, Trumpet
|
| Record Label |
Sonográfica
|
| Associated Acts |
Héctor Lavoe, Rubén Blades, Mon Rivera, David Byrne, Celia Cruz, Da House, Fonseca, Ismael Miranda, Soledad Bravo, Sophy, Fania All-Stars
|
| Official Websites |
http://www.williecolon.com, http://williecolon.com
|
William Anthony Colón Román (April 28, 1950 – February 21, 2026) was an American salsa musician and social activist. He began his career as a trombonist but also sang, wrote, produced and acted. Colón was a pioneer of salsa music and a best-selling artist in the genre, having been a key figure in the nascent New York City scene associated with Fania Records. He was also noteworthy for having assumed the gangster image in his album covers before it was culturally popular. Since the 1980s, he was at times deeply involved in the politics of New York City.
